FTSE Russell Works with DAR Data Services on Indicative Digital Assets Index

FTSE Russell is working with DAR Data Services (DAR) to introduce an indicative FTSE Digital Assets Index. The index will be used to evaluate and test a benchmark for the most actively traded digital assets, and is designed to help the establishment of industry standards and transparency in the digital assets market. The indicative index, which will be available to registered users, will be calculated every 15 seconds, 24×7 with data sourced from selected digital exchanges vetted and approved by DAR. FTSE Russell will also provide a Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) for all 100 constituent digital assets.

SoftLab9 Signs Agreement with Moody’s Subsidiary Bureau Van Dijk

Software development company SoftLab9 has signed an agreement with Bureau Van Dijk (BVD), a subsidiary of Moody’s credit agency, to provide global company information for SoftLab9’s EnhanceComply.com compliance products.

“[BvD] enhance our coverage with the world’s most comprehensive data sets, including beneficial ownership, corporate structure, and more. Adding these capabilities will make SoftLab9’s enhanced due diligence one of the most thorough services available,” said Rahim Mohamed, Co-founder and CEO of Softlab9.

SoftLab9 also confirmed plans to integrate AI to its datasets for greater efficiency in analysing large amounts of structured and unstructured data.

Xelion Provides Call Recording Functionality for MiFID II Compliance

Xelion, a cloud telephony provider, is providing MiFID II compliance through a call recording function in its latest version of the Xelion service. MiFID II requires all calls relating to financial trades to be recorded. The Xelion recording feature can be configured to required groups, users, or phone numbers, which can save storage. Users have control over who can access the recordings, which are available through Xelion’s applications.

Apex Group Selects AQMetrics to Power Regulatory Reporting Teams

Apex Group, the fifth-largest fund administrator in the world with over $610 billion in assets under management, has selected RegTech firm AQMetrics as its regulatory reporting technology solution. Apex plans to utilise AQMetrics for its ESMA, CFTC and SEC regulatory reporting requirements. The integrated AQMetrics platform will deliver a full suite of multi-jurisdictional regulatory reporting solutions to the global Apex Group.

HMRC Releases List of Firms in Breach of AML Regulations

HMRC on March 4,2019 published a list of nine businesses issued with penalty notices for the 2018-19 tax year, for failing to comply with the new 2017 Money Laundering Regulations. Five penalties were enforced by HRMC between June 2017 and October 2018 under the 2017 regulations, to the value of £1,390.80. A further 545 penalties were enforced under the 2007 AML regulations over the same period, to the value of £2.54 million.

The FCA is believed to have given notice to hedge funds to expect FCA AML investigators within the next month.

Infragistics and Adaptable Tools Bring Integrated Charting to Data Grids

Infragistics, a user interface component provider, and Adaptable Tools, provider of the HTML5 data grid add-on AdaptableBlotter, have allied to offer integrated, live charting within data grids. Users will be able to switch between charting and table views, and use other features that allow them to manipulate data. Some of the key features include live charts that update automatically as grid data ticks, callouts and final values, and a query capability to show users the data that matters.

Singapore’s Jumio Joins with ComplyAdvantage to Reduce AML Risk Exposure

Jumio, an AI-powered trusted identity as a service provider, this week launched Jumio Screening: an automated AML screening solution that integrates ComplyAdvantage, a real-time, dynamic financial crime database. The partnership gives Jumio users access to a global proprietary database of structured risk profiles covering enhanced sanctions, regulatory and enforcement watchlists, politically exposed persons and adverse media. The integration automatically flags any new online customers when they are initially onboarded, if their names are listed within any of these databases. The new service also delivers alerts and ongoing monitoring after the initial onboarding process to help financial organisations maintain compliance.

BearingPoint Reports Record Revenues for 2018

Technology consultancy and RegTech solutions provider BearingPoint has announced record revenues of €789 million for 2018, despite numerous investments throughout the year and the transition in September of Kiumars Hamidian to Managing Partner. Europe provided strong growth above market average, particularly in France, Benelux, Africa, the UK and Ireland, while the firm also opened a new office in Luxembourg and acquired Inpuls, a data specialist in Belgium. It also made its first strategic acquisition in Asia, investing in Insignary, a specialist in binary-level open source software, and made over 1,100 new hires throughout 2018.

Theta Lake Partners with Zoom to Offer New AI Compliance Capabilities

California-based Theta Lake, a provider of cloud-based compliance AI for voice, video and chat communication, has announced a new partnership with Zoom Video Communications to launch Theta Lake for Zoom on the Zoom App Marketplace. The product integration enables regulated organizations to archive Zoom video, chat, and audio to comply with long-term regulatory retention requirements as well as leverage purpose-built AI and ML to automatically detect compliance risks and speed up workflow for shown, shared, spoken or written content in Zoom.

Ascent RegTech Joins Wells Fargo Start-up Accelerator

Compliance automation platform Ascent RegTech has been selected to join the Wells Fargo Start-up Accelerator Programme. The accelerator began in 2014 and currently has 23 companies in its portfolio. Start-ups are eligible to receive up to $1 million in funding, along with guidance from Wells Fargo business and technology leaders to help refine the launch of their ideas. The virtual, six-month, non-exclusive program has received nearly 2,500 applications from innovative companies in 91 countries since inception.