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.”

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).

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.

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.

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 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 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.

Governor Reg: FCA, a live version of the FCA Handbook allowing UK regulated financial institutions to map, track and report regulatory compliance, was today integrated into the FCA Handbook website to enhance overall user experience, improve navigation and provide .csv downloads of relevant items. To further help UK regulated firms to stay compliant, the firm has developed a live version of Governor Reg: FCA for commercial clients, providing direct access to a live copy of all of the FCA regulations within their compliance system.

Financial crime and compliance management platform TruNarrative has expanded into the North American market with new US headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The UK-based firm was founded in 2016 and provides a no-code platform connecting multiple identity verification, fraud detection, eKYC, and AML compliance data providers via a single API. “Launching our platform across European markets has provided us with an ideal testbed for demonstrating the value of our unified approach. Addressing Europe’s different regulations will serve us well as we expand into North America’s multiple jurisdictions,” said CEO John Lord.

The European Commission has suggested that it may tweak MiFID II market rules after an industry backlash criticising the regulation. Issues to be reviewed, according to the FT, include changes to the cost and distribution of market data, investor protection rules, and research for small companies. The FCA has also promised to conduct a sector-wide review of post-MiFID II research pricing, after a multi-firm review in September found that banks could be using their size to undercut independent houses and smaller brokerages.