ESMA Announces MiFID Scheduled Publication Dates for 2020

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published its 2020 calendar of MiFID II/MiFIR relevant publications for the transparency regime and systematic internalisers’ tests, to assist market participants planning for the next 12 months. The calendar covers non-daily publications (excluding daily reference data and transparency calculations for recently-listed instruments). Double volume cap data will also be released on the fifth working day of each month.

From April onwards, ESMA for the first time plans to publish transparency and systemic internalisers calculations for derivatives. These were not included in 2019 due to data quality issues.

ComplySci Launches London Office

Automated compliance management solutions provider ComplySci has expanded its global presence with a new London office, housing 13 full-time staff led by Kyri Yiannakis, Managing Director and Head of EMEA. The move follows the firm’s October 2019 expansion into a new 18,000 square foot headquarters in New York.

ComplySci is backed by Vista Equity Partners, a specialist investment firm exclusively focused on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled organizations.

Basel Committee Launches Consolidated Basel Framework

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has launched a new consolidated framework, bringing together all of its 14 global standards for the regulation and supervision of banks and financial institutions for the first time on a new section of its website. The framework is the finalised version following the incorporation of feedback submitted against a draft published in April 2019.

SteelEye Extends Reach with Office in Paris

SteelEye, a compliance technology and data analytics firm, has taken the next step in its international expansion with the opening of an office in Paris. The office supports SteelEye’s rapid growth and positions the company closer to regulated financial markets in France, as well as the Benelux region, Switzerland and many of its existing clients. Since its inception in 2017, SteelEye has acquired over 40 clients across seven countries. CEO Matt Smith says: “After a successful first two years’ operating out of the UK, we now want to enable more firms to realise the benefits of the SteelEye platform.”

ESMA Updates AIFMD Q&A

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has updated its Questions and Answers on the application of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), which are intended to provide common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of the AIFMD and its implementing measures. The regulator has added one new Q&A on the AIFMD reporting to National Competent Authorities, offering clarification on reporting requirements on liquidity stress tests for closed-ended unleveraged Alternative Investment Fund (AIFs).

IHS Markit Receives Authorisation as Benchmark Administrator in the Netherlands

The Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets has authorised the Dutch entity of HIS Markit, Markit NV, as an administrator under the European Benchmark Regulation. Last year IHS Markit was also approved by the UK’s FCA, making it the first benchmark administrator to be authorised by National Competent Authorities in both the UK and Europe. The dual authorisation should offer some reassurance to clients in the event the UK exits the EU, while the firm can also now endorse third country benchmarks for use in the EU and assist third country benchmark administrators gain recognition in the EU27.

Financial Stability Board Publishes 2019 G-SIB List

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published the 2019 list of global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) using end-2018 data and an assessment methodology designed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). One bank, Toronto Dominion, has been added to the list of G-SIBs that were identified in 2018, increasing the overall number from 29 to 30.

NEW BIS Innovation Hub to Focus on RegTech

The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has launched its third BIS Innovation Hub centre in Singapore, following two recently launched centres in Hong Kong and Switzerland. The Singapore branch will focus on two areas: 1) digital infrastructures on identity, consent and data sharing, and 2) the creation of a digital platform to connect regulators and supervisors with digital and technology solution providers. Through the platform, central banks will be able to put up regulatory problems and challenges to source solutions from the FinTech community. “This will help central banks develop innovative solutions and policies for cost-effective regulation and supervision,” says BIS. The hub was launched at the 2019 Singapore Fintech Festival.

ABN Amro Selects UnaVista for SFTR, MiFID II Reporting

ABN AMRO Bank has selected the LSE’s UnaVista platform as its regulatory reporting provider for SFTR and MiFID II transaction reporting. ABN AMRO Bank will be using the UnaVista SFTR Accelerator, a data testing tool that allows firms to import sections of the required data to test against ESMA’s latest regulatory technical standards (RTS). The Accelerator Tool includes the ability to import data in the ESMA mandated XML ISO20222 format and to reconcile with counterparties for pre-matching. ABN Amro will collaborate with Broadridge 4Sight, IHS Markit and UnaVista through the latter’s partner program to route data directly to the repository.

KRM22 Launches Market Risk Solution for Global Risk Platform

KRM22 has announced the availability of its Market Risk solution on its SaaS-based Global Risk Platform.The Global Risk Platform now provides an “end to end” Market Risk solution assisting futures clearing merchants, asset managers, broker dealers and hedge funds with their risk management. Risk tools provide analytics to help portfolio management and modify trading behaviour, while the platform also includes a centralised order limit management system. “Bringing pre-trade, at-trade and post trade solutions onto one common SaaS based platform creates the cost and operational efficiencies our clients require in this increasingly competitive market,” said KRM22 President, Stephen Casner.