Europe

AML / KYC

EU Imposes First Sanctions Against Cyber Attackers

By Editors | 03/08/2020

Measures will be taken against six individuals and three entities, including travel bans, asset freezes, and a prohibition on obtaining funding from the EU.

Fintech / Regtech

Italian Banks Adopt Blockchain to Reconcile Interbank Transactions

By Editors | 31/07/2020

55 banks are using a blockchain platform to share interbank transfer data and reconcile transactions, an initiative made possible by a rule change last May.

Market Infrastructure

ESMA Set to Defer CSDR’s Settlement Discipline Regime

By Editors | 29/07/2020

The European Commission asked ESMA to consider a one-year deferral in light of operational pressures on firms and other market developments amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Market Infrastructure

Refinitiv Launches Term SONIA Reference Rate Prototype

By Editors | 22/07/2020

Refinitiv’s announcement follows the launch of a beta version of term SONIA reference rates by ICE Benchmark Administration earlier this month.

Enforcement

ESMA Opens Probe Into Germany’s Wirecard Response

By Editors | 19/07/2020

ESMA’s fast track assessment will focus on whether BaFin and accounting watchdog FREP properly applied European guidelines on enforcing the reporting of financial information.

Securities / Derivatives

The Role of Derivatives Markets in Sustainable Finance

By Editors | 16/07/2020

The derivatives market can contribute in the transition towards a low-carbon economy, due its ability to facilitate capital-raising via the hedging of risks related to sustainable investments.

Market Infrastructure

SFTR Reporting Regime Goes Live for Sell-Side Firms

By Editors | 13/07/2020

Banks, investment firms, CSDs and CCPs started reporting securities financing transactions to approved trade repositories on Monday.

Fintech / Regtech

Denmark Introduces Mandatory Data Ethics Disclosure Rule

By Editors | 08/07/2020

From 1 January 2021, large and listed Danish companies will disclose information about their data ethics policy, AI tools and algorithms in annual reports.

AML / KYC

UK Imposes First Sanctions Over Human Rights Abuses

By Editors | 07/07/2020

The UK has designated 25 Russians, 20 Saudi Arabians, two Myanmar generals, and two North Korean organisations. Their UK assets will be frozen.