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Amrit Sekhon Named Deputy Comptroller for Capital and Regulatory Policy
08/13/2015
On August 13, 2015, Amrit Sekhon was named the OCC’s Deputy Comptroller for Capital and Regulatory Policy from October 4, 2015. Mr. Sekhon joined the OCC in 1998 and most recently served as Director for Capital Policy, overseeing the implementation of the Dodd-Frank capital and leverage rules. In his new role, Mr. Sekhon will be the key advisor to Comptroller Curry on domestic and international policies on bank capital. He will further serve as the OCC’s representative for Basel Committee meetings.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments -
Greg Coleman Named Deputy Comptroller for Large Bank Supervision
08/11/2015
On August 11, 2015, the OCC assigned Greg Coleman the role of Deputy Comptroller for Large Bank Supervision. Mr. Coleman joined the OCC in 1989 and became a commissioned national bank examiner in 1994. In his new role, Mr. Coleman joins three other Deputies for Large Bank Supervision and the Deputy Comptroller for International Banking Supervision in overseeing the large complex financial institutions subject to supervision by the OCC.
View the press release.http://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2015/nr-occ-2015-112.htmlTopic: Other Developments -
Stephen W. Warren Named the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's Chief Information Officer
08/06/2015
On August 6, 2015, Stephen W. Warren was named Chief Information Officer at the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. He will join the OCC on September 6, 2015.Topic: Other Developments -
Linda Cunningham Named the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's First Chief Risk Officer
08/05/2015
Linda Cunningham was named the first Chief Risk Officer at the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Prudential Regulation Authority Publishes Further Rulebook Parts and Supervisory Statements
08/03/2015
The Prudential Regulation Authority published a Policy Statement which sets out further rules that have been migrated from the joint Financial Conduct Authority/PRA Handbook to the PRA’s Rulebook. The PRA began reshaping the materials inherited from the Financial Services Authority to create a Rulebook which contains PRA rules only and follows the split of the FSA into the PRA and the FCA. The Policy Statement includes rules on passporting, regulatory reporting and reverse stress testing and final Supervisory Statements on: (i) the aggregation of holdings for the purpose of the prudential assessment of controllers; (ii) the internal capital adequacy assessment process or ICAAP and the supervisory review and evaluation process or SREP; (iii) guidelines for completing regulatory reports (entering into force on 1 January 2016); and (iv) internal governance. The Supervisory Statements set out the PRA’s expectations of firms in the relevant areas. The PRA has postponed publishing a Rulebook part and a related Supervisory Statement for internal governance of third-country branches because of the impact that the final rules under the Senior Managers Regime for third-country branches will have on those rules and its Supervisory Statement. The PRA intends to launch its online Rulebook before the end of 2015.
View the Policy Statement.
Topic: Other Developments -
New Appointment to Board of Financial Conduct Authority
07/31/2015
Christopher Woolard has been appointed to the FCA Board as Director of Strategy and Competition for a three year term as of August 1, 2015.Topic: Other Developments -
Bank of England Secondment to the Financial Conduct Authority
07/31/2015
Megan Butler, Executive Director of International Banks Directorate at the Bank of England, will undertake a one year secondment as Director of Supervision—Investment, Wholesale & Specialists at the FCA, as of September 1, 2015. Sarah Breeden, Director of Overseas Banks Division will act as Executive Director of International Banks Directorate during Ms. Butler’s absence.Topic: Other Developments -
US Federal Reserve Appoints Faster Payments Strategy
07/30/2015
The Federal Reserve Board announced the appointment of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Senior Vice President Sean Rodriguez as the Faster Payments Strategy Leader. Mr. Rodriguez will chair the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payments Task Force, comprised of more than 300 payment system stakeholders interested in improving the speed of authorization, clearing, settlement and notification of various types of personal and business payments.Topic: Other Developments -
New Members of EU Consultative Working Group for the Investor Protection and Intermediaries Standing Committee
07/30/2015
The European Securities and Markets Authority announced the new members of its Consultative Working Group for the Investor Protection and Intermediaries Standing Committee. The new chair of the Committee is Jean-Paul Servais, Chair of the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority. The Committee is responsible for work on investor protection in the provision of investment services and activities by investment firms and banks, including the conduct of business rules, distribution of investment products, investment advice and suitability, and for providing technical advice and draft technical standards to the European Commission on relevant issues under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive.Topic: Other Developments -
International Organization of Securities Commissions Review on Timeliness and Frequency of Disclosure to Investors
07/30/2015
The International Organization of Securities Commissions published its Thematic Review of the implementation on the timeliness and frequency of disclosure to investors according to Principles 16 and 26 of the IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation. Thirty‑seven jurisdictions participated in the review. Principle 16 relates to issuers and states that there should be full, accurate and timely disclosure of financial results, risk and other information material to the decisions of investors. The review found that there are differences on the type of information that must be disclosed and the timing of the disclosures: listed issuers are more often subject to disclosure requirements compared to other issuers, and disclosure deadlines for listed issuers are tighter. Principle 23 relates to Collective Investment Schemes and states that regulation should require necessary disclosure to evaluate the suitability of a CIS for a particular investor and the value of the investor’s interest in the scheme. The review found that timely disclosure requirements on value, risk reward profile and costs of CISs were found to be in place for all jurisdictions.
View the Review.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Prudential Regulation Authority Announces New Appointments to Board
07/27/2015
The Bank of England announced the appointment of David Thorburn and Dr Norval Bryson as independent members of the Board of the Prudential Regulation Authority, effective September 1, 2015.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Banking Standards Board Announces New Appointment to Board
07/27/2015
The UK Banking Standards Board announced the appointment of Saker Nusseibeh, CEO of Hermes Investment Management, to its Board from September 2015.Topic: Other Developments -
FX Working Group Established to Improve Global FX Market Standards
07/24/2015
The Markets Committee of the Bank for International Settlements announced that the Foreign Exchange Working Group has been established. The objective of the FX Working Group is to strengthen code of conduct standards and principles in FX markets through the establishment of a single global code of conduct and related principles to ensure increased adherence to the code.
View the announcement.Topic: Other Developments -
Final Global Criteria for Simple, Transparent and Comparable Securitizations
07/23/2015
The Basel Committee and the International Organization of Securities Commissions published final criteria for identifying simple, transparent and comparable securitizations. The aim of the criteria is to assist parties to a securitization to assess the risk involved across similar products, although they do not serve as a substitute for investor due diligence. The criteria are non-exhaustive and non-binding.
View the final criteria.Topic: Other Developments -
New Chair of Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panel
07/23/2015
The Financial Conduct Authority announced that Antonio Simoes, Chief Executive Officer for HSBC in the UK, will become Chair of the FCA Practitioner Panel from August 1, 2015. Mr. Simoes will succeed Alison Brittain, former Group Director of Retail at Lloyds Banking Group.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Government Consults on Further Reforms to the UK Regulatory Architecture
07/21/2015
The UK Government launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the governance and regulatory architecture in line with the announcement made alongside the Queen’s speech in May about a new Bank of England Bill. The proposals include ending the subsidiary status of the Prudential Regulation Authority by bringing it within the BoE and calling it the Prudential Regulation Committee. The PRA’s functions would transfer to the BoE and the PRC would have the responsibility for exercising them, retaining the independence of the PRA to make rules, policies and supervisory decisions. The new PRC would be set up on the same basis as the Monetary Policy Committee of the BoE. Other proposals include: (i) formalizing the working relationship established between HM Treasury and the BoE for coordination in a financial crisis and the development of resolution strategies for banks and large investment firms; (ii) adjusting the statutory status of the Financial Policy Committee from a sub-Committee of the Court of Directors of the BoE to a Committee of the BoE in line with the MPC; (iii) transferring responsibility for setting the BoE’s financial stability strategy from the Court of the BoE to the FPC; and (iv) decreasing the size of the Court and including the new Deputy Governor position for Markets and Banking. The consultation is open until September 11, 2015.
View the consultation paper.Topic: Other Developments -
Federal Reserve Board Governor Nominated by President Obama
07/20/2015
President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Dr. Kathryn M. Dominguez to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Dominguez is a Professor of Public Policy and Economics in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan.Topic: Other Developments -
New External Members Appointed to the UK Financial Services Trade and Investment Board
07/20/2015
The UK Government announced the appointment of new external members to the Financial Services Trade and Investment Board, the body created in 2013 to ensure that Britain's position as a global finance centre is strengthened. The new external members are: (i) Helena Morrissey, CEO, Newton and Chair, The Investment Association; (ii) Inga Beale, CEO, Lloyd’s of London; (iii) John McFarlane, Chairman, Barclays, and incoming Chairman, TheCityUK; and (iv) Nathan Bostock, CEO, Santander UK.Topic: Other Developments -
Financial Conduct Authority Chief Executive to Stand Down
07/17/2015
The FCA announced that Chief Executive Martin Wheatley would be standing down from September 12, 2015. Mr. Wheatley will continue to act as an advisor to the FCA Board until January 31, 2016, particularly on the implementation of the recommendations of the Fair and Effective Markets Review.Topic: Other Developments -
European Banking Authority Publishes Guidelines on Product Oversight and Governance Arrangements for Retail Banking Products
07/15/2015
The EBA published final guidelines on product oversight and governance arrangements for financial institutions as manufacturers of retail banking products and for distributors of retail banking products – mortgages, personal loans, deposits, payment accounts, payment services and electronic money. The guidelines will apply from January 3, 2017 to all products brought to market after that date as well as to existing products that are significantly changed after that (the EBA does not clarify the meaning of "significantly changed"). The guidelines are addressed to EU national regulators and financial institutions and require the establishment of product oversight and governance arrangements for the design, bringing to market and review of retail banking products over their lifecycle. The guidelines supplement the EBA’s 2011 guidelines on internal governance but do not cover the suitability of products for individual consumers.
View the final guidelines.
View the guidelines on internal governance.
Topic: Other Developments -
Chair Appointed to UK Payments Strategy Forum
07/15/2015
The UK Payment Systems Regulator announced that Ruth Evans had been appointed as chair of the Payments Strategy Forum and would take up her role on July 27, 2015. The Payments Strategy Forum will be responsible for identifying and developing initiatives that the industry can work together to deliver innovation. A call for members of the Forum was also issued on the same day as the announcement.Topic: Other Developments -
Board of the International Organization of Securities Publishes Report Titled SME Financing Through Capital Markets
07/09/2015
The Board of IOSCO published a report titled SME Financing through Capital Markets, which provides recommendations for regulators to facilitate capital-raising by Small and Medium Enterprises in emerging markets. The report recognizes the obstacles facing SMEs in accessing market-based financing, and examines some of the successful measures applied by regulators to aid SMEs in accessing capital markets. Successful regulatory frameworks and measures include establishing separate equity and fixed income markets with regulatory requirements tailored to SMEs, establishing market advisor and market-making systems and introducing alternative methods of financing such as private equity, venture capital and securitization. The IOSCO Board will have a roundtable on the issue of SME access to market-based finance at its next meeting in Toronto in October 2015.
View the report.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Government Makes Recommendations to the Financial Policy Committee
07/08/2015
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, wrote to Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, specifying the remit and recommendations for the FPC in the coming year. Once a year, the Chancellor is required to set out the economic policy of the Government and make recommendations to the FPC about matters that the FPC should consider as relevant to BoE’s financial stability objective and the FPC’s responsibility for achieving that objective. In the letter, the FPC is requested to consider a broad range of risks to the UK financial system, including identifying, monitoring and addressing systemic non-financial risks such as cyber risks. The Chancellor’s recommendations included that the FPC: (i) should support the Government’s strategy for making the UK’s financial services sector the best regulated and most competitive in the world, including taking into account the promotion of competition and innovation in all sectors of the industry and retaining the UK’s position as a leading international financial center; (ii) should consider whether there is a risk of public funds being required and should seek to minimize such risks; and (iii) should note in its public documents how it has had regard to the policy settings and forecasts of the Monetary Policy Committee.
View the letter.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Financial Conduct Authority Appoints New Director of Supervision, Retail and Authorizations
07/07/2015The FCA announced that it has appointed Jonathan Davidson as its new Director of Supervision for retail and authorizations beginning in the third quarter of 2015.Topic: Other Developments
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European Banking Authority Opinion on Securitization
07/07/2015
The European Banking Authority published an Opinion on the establishment of a European framework for qualifying securitizations. The Opinion is addressed to the European Commission, which issued a call for advice in January 2014 to identify the most appropriate characteristics in relation to categories of underlying assets and certain structural and transparency features for “high-quality” transactions. The EBA was asked to assess whether it would be appropriate to grant preferential treatment to high-quality securitizations, so as to boost EU securitization markets. The Opinion makes five recommendations, namely to: (i) conduct an all-inclusive review of the regulatory framework for securitizations and other investment products such as covered bonds and whole loan portfolios; (ii) create a framework for qualifying securitizations; (iii) establish criteria defining qualifying term securitizations; (iv) establish criteria defining qualifying asset-backed commercial paper securitizations; and (v) re-calibrate the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision 2014 securitization framework applicable to qualifying securitization positions. The Opinion states that these recommendations on the implementation of a qualifying securitization framework should be reconsidered subject to any progress made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and International Organization of Securities Commission on the definition of a simple transparent and comparable securitizations framework. An accompanying report on qualifying securitization was also published by the EBA and describes the analysis carried out in order to reach the recommendations.
View the Opinion.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Competition and Markets Authority Appoints New Executive Director for Enforcement
07/02/2015
The UK Competition and Markets Authority announced that it appointed Dr. Michael Grenfell to its board as the new Executive Director for Enforcement.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments -
European Securities and Markets Authority Q&As on Anti‑Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Investment‑Based Crowdfunding Platforms
07/01/2015
The European Securities and Markets Authority published Q&As on anti‑money laundering and terrorist financing in investment‑based crowdfunding platforms. The Q&As aim to encourage common supervisory approaches and consistent application of anti‑money laundering and terrorist financing rules to investment‑based crowdfunding platforms. The Q&As deal with questions related to the treatment of investment‑based crowdfunding under the Anti‑Money Laundering Directive, the differences in risk profiles of platforms operating inside or outside a regulatory regime or within the scope of MiFID, and how to mitigate risks.
View the Q&As.Topic: Other Developments -
Final Draft Technical Standards under Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation and Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II
06/30/2015
The European Securities and Markets Authority published final draft implementing technical standards and Regulatory Technical Standards on requirements for: (i) the authorization of investment firms, including template forms; (ii) requirements for passport notification, including template forms and procedures; (iii) information for registration with ESMA of third country firms; (iv) the format of information to be provided by third country firms to their EU clients on the submission of disputes to the jurisdiction of a court or arbitral tribunal in a Member State; and (v) cooperation between national regulators including the exchange of information. ESMA is required to prepare the ITS and RTS under the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation and Directive, which will apply from January 3, 2017. ESMA will provide the remaining technical standards to the European Commission before the end of 2015.
View the report.Topic: Other Developments -
European Securities and Markets Authority Board of Supervisors Appoints New Chairs of its Standing Committees
06/26/2015
The Board of Supervisors of the European Securities and Markets Authority has appointed the following individuals as chairs of its standing committees: (i) Lourdes Centeno to chair the Review Panel; (ii) Hannelore Lausch to chair the Corporate Reporting Standing Committee; (iii) David Lawton to chair the Market Data Standing Committee; (iv) Elizabeth Roegele to chair the Secondary Markets Standing Committee; (v) Jean-Paul Servais to chair the Financial Innovation Standing Committee; and (vi) Martin Wheatley to chair the Investor Protection and Intermediaries Standing Committee.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Regulator Publishes Discussion Paper on Delivering Smarter Communications to Consumers
06/25/2015
The Financial Conduct Authority issued an interactive discussion paper to start a debate and encourage firms to deliver smarter communications to consumers in more effective ways. The discussion paper states that for a market to perform well, engaged and informed consumers are needed. The FCA recognizes that some methods of communication can overwhelm, confuse and even deter consumers from making effective choices about financial products and services. The FCA is committed to ensuring that firms operate with due regard for their consumers, that communications are not misleading and that communications are transmitted in a clear and fair way. The FCA also published research alongside the discussion paper. Responses to the discussion paper are due by September 25, 2015.
View the discussion paper and research.Topic: Other Developments -
Payments Systems Regulator Issues Call for Input on Card Payment Systems
06/24/2015
The Payment Systems Regulator issued a call for input on card payment systems. The PSR seeks views on issues related to payment systems in the UK and in particular on interbank payment systems. The PSR is interested in hearing about the impact of new EU regulations which introduce new rules and implement caps on interchange fees, and the effect that these regulations might have on the way in which the UK card payment systems operate. The call for input also wishes to obtain views on general trends within card payment systems and gather information on how the interests of service users are considered in decision making. Responses to the call for input are due before July 31, 2015.
View the call for input.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Regulators Propose New Rules for Regulating Credit Unions
06/24/2015
The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority launched a consultation on proposals to reform the Credit Unions Sourcebook in the Handbook. The PRA intends to replace the current Credit Unions Sourcebook that was inherited from the Financial Services Authority with a new Credit Unions Rulebook in the PRA Rulebook which will focus on the safety and soundness of credit unions and will reflect the now broader range of financial services offered by credit unions. The FCA intends to replicate many of the provisions of the Credit Unions Sourcebook. The consultation closes on September 30, 2015.
View the consultation.Topic: Other Developments -
US Federal Reserve Board Announces New Deputy Director of Division of Monetary Affairs
06/19/2015
The Federal Reserve Board announced that Brian F. Madigan will become the new secretary of the Federal Open Market Committee and deputy director of the Federal Reserve Board’s Division of Monetary Affairs.
View the Federal Reserve Board press release.Topic: Other Developments -
International Organization for Securities Commissions Issues Press Release Further to Annual Conference
06/17/2015
The International Organization for Securities Commissions issued a press release further to its recent annual conference, reporting that important organization and policy issues have been discussed, including IOSCO’s strategic direction to 2020 as well as its action plans. IOSCO aims to reinforce its position as a global reference for securities regulation and aims to implement 43 new initiatives encompassing six priority areas: (i) research and risk identification; (ii) standard setting and developing guidance; (iii) implementation monitoring; (iv) capacity building; (v) co-operation and information exchange; and (vi) collaboration and engagement with other international organizations.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments -
Final UK Rules on Restrictions on Retail Distribution of CoCos and Mutual Society Shares
06/12/2015
The Financial Conduct Authority published its Policy Statement and final rules on the restrictions on the retail distribution of contingent convertible securities, known as CoCos, and mutual society shares. The FCA announced a temporary ban on the retail distribution of CoCos, which entered into force on October 1, 2014. The final permanent rules restricting distribution of CoCos to retail clients will come into effect on October 1, 2015 and the rules on mutual society shares will come into effect on July 1, 2015.
View the FCA's Policy Statement.Topic: Other Developments -
US Securities and Exchange Commission Publishes Request for Public Comment on Exchange-Traded Products
06/12/2015
The US Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it is seeking public comment on the listing and trading of new, novel or complex exchange-traded products (“ETPs”). Specifically, the request deals with key issues that arise when market participants seek an exemption in order to trade a new ETP or when a securities exchange is looking to establish standards for the listing of new ETPs. ETPs have become an important investment vehicle to market participants. Given the significant increase in the number and complexity of new products, the SEC has determined that broad public input is necessary regarding certain issues, including arbitrage mechanisms and market pricing for ETPs, legal exemptions and other regulatory positions related to the trading of ETPs and securities exchange listing standards for ETPs. The request also solicits comment on how market professionals sell ETPs, especially to retail investors, and on investors’ understanding of the nature and use of ETPs. The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following publication of the comment request in the Federal Register.
View the press release.
View the request for comment.Topic: Other Developments -
Bank of England Announces Open Forum on Assessment of the Reforms Impacting the FICC Markets
06/11/2015
The Bank of England announced an Open Forum, that will take place in autumn this year, to assess the financial regulatory reforms affecting the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities markets that are already implemented or in train. Alongside the announcement, the Bank published a paper detailing its analysis of the short fallings of the FICC market, issues with its own frameworks and operating procedures, measures to rectify those failings and the difficulties that remain. Further details of the Open Forum will be published in due course. In the meantime, stakeholders are invited to register their interest in attending the event through the Bank of England’s website.
View the announcement.
View the related document.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Fair and Effective Markets Review Makes Recommendations in Final Report
06/10/2015
The final report of the UK Fair and Effective Markets Review was published. The report includes an analysis of the causes of recent misconduct in the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities markets, an evaluation of the impact of related reforms that have been implemented or are otherwise in progress and recommendations to enhance the fairness of the FICC markets. The recommendations will need to be implemented by public authorities and market participants domestically although several will require international discussions and coordination to implement. The recommendations to be implemented domestically include: (i) extending the UK criminal sanctions regime for market abuse by including a wider range of FICC markets, lengthening the maximum sentence from seven to ten year’s imprisonment and creating a regime for spot FX (the latter would be a civil and criminal regime for market abuse); (ii) extending certain elements of the Senior Managers and Certification regimes to a wider range of regulated firms that participate in the FICC markets; (iii) establishing a new FICC Market Standards Board; (iv) improving awareness of the application of competition law to the FICC markets; (v) developing new training and qualification standards; (vi) and requiring regulatory references for individuals. Recommendations requiring international coordination include:
(i) developing globally agreed common standards for trading practices in FICC markets; (ii) agreeing a single global FX code; (iii) considering how to ensure benchmark administrators publish consistent self-assessments; and (iv) examining means to improve the alignment of remuneration and conduct risk. A report on implementation progress will be published by June 2016.
View the final report.Topic: Other Developments -
UK Changes to Pension Transfer Rules Come into Effect
06/08/2015
The Financial Conduct Authority published a Policy Statement and final rules on changes to the pension transfer rules. The amendments, which were consulted on in March this year, are needed to ensure that the rules reflect the change to legislation that made it a regulated activity to advise on the conversion or transfer of safeguarded pension benefits into flexible benefits. The FCA has also made changes to the Conduct of Business rules so that pension transfer requirements apply to all pension transfers, regardless of when the transferred benefits are accessed. The new rules came into force on June 8, 2015.
View the Policy Statement.Topic: Other Developments -
EU Revised Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Framework Comes into Effect
06/05/2015
The revised EU Directive on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing (the “4th Anti-money Laundering Directive” or “4MLD”) and the Regulation on information accompanying transfers of funds were published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Together, the legislation represents the revised EU framework on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. Member States have until June 26, 2017 to transpose the requirements of the 4th Anti-money Laundering Directive into national law. The 4th Anti-money Laundering Directive will repeal, from June 26, 2017, the current anti-money laundering Directive and its related Implementing Directive. The Regulation will apply directly in all Member States from June 26, 2017 and will repeal the 2006 Regulation on information on the payer accompanying transfers of funds from that date.
View the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive.
View the Regulation.Topic: Other Developments -
CFTC Announces International Affairs Director Sarah Josephson to Assume New Role at Agency
05/29/2015
The Director of the CFTC’s Office of International Affairs, Sarah E. Josephson, announced her resignation as director of the OIA and return to her previous position as the CFTC Deputy Director in the Division of Clearing and Risk. Special Counsel, Jeffrey M. Bandman, has been appointed Acting Director of OIA while the CFTC conducts a search for a new director.Topic: Other Developments -
US Securities and Exchange Commission Names Andrew J. Donohue as Chief of Staff
05/28/2015
The SEC named Andrew J. Donohue the SEC Chief of Staff.Mr. Donohue will replace Lona Nallengara who leaves the SEC in June. As chief of staff, Mr. Donohue will be a senior adviser to SEC Chair Mary Jo White on all policy, management and regulatory issues.Topic: Other Developments -
Bank of England Publishes Guidance on Traded Risk Methodology for Stress Test of UK Banking System together with Traded Risk and Structured Finance Scenario
05/26/2015
The Bank of England published a report on stress testing the UK banking system, which includes guidance on the traded risk methodology for participating banks and building societies. The document sets out the approach that banks are expected to take in the execution of the stress test of the UK banking system relating to trading positions. The guidance is designed to assist firms to carry out their own analysis for the stress test. The BoE also published a traded risk and structured finance scenario. This is a "tail risk" scenario, designed to assess the resilience of banks to deterioration in global economic conditions.
View the report.
View the scenario.Topic: Other Developments -
Benjamin Lawsky to Step Down as New York Superintendent of Financial Services
05/20/2015
Benjamin M. Lawsky, the superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, New York’s top financial regulator, announced his departure from the NYDFS effective late June 2015. Mr. Lawsky’s successor has not yet been announced.Topic: Other Developments -
European Commission Adopts Better Regulation Agenda
05/19/2015
The European Commission launched its Better Regulation Agenda. Through this package, the Commission aims to: (i) enhance transparency in the EU decision-making process by introducing a new web portal where initiatives can be tracked and by providing more opportunities for stakeholders to comment throughout the policy lifecycle, including allowing for feedback after the Commission has adopted a legislative proposal or, for secondary legislation, before adoption by the Commission or Member States; (ii) improve the quality of new laws through better impact assessments of draft legislation and amendments by: (a) transforming the current Commission Impact Assessment Board into an independent Regulatory Scrutiny Board with an expanded role; and (b) ensuring that impact assessments are carried out throughout the legislative process; and (iii) improve the review of existing EU laws by amending the Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (known as REFIT) so that it is more targeted, looks at the most serious sources of inefficiency and quantifies costs and benefits whenever possible. The European Commission also announced that it will enter into negotiations with the European Parliament and Council on a proposed new Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-making, endeavoring to reach an agreement by the end of 2015. The US federal bank regulatory agencies are also currently reviewing potential outdated or unnecessary regulations.
View the Better Regulation documents.Topic: Other Developments -
US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Issues Final Rule Integrating National Bank and Federal Savings Association Licensing Activities
05/18/2015
The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released a final rule integrating policies and procedures for certain corporate activities and transactions by national banks and federal savings associations. The OCC aims to make the regulatory regime for both national banks and federal savings associations more efficient and streamlined, where possible, to promote fair supervision and to promote the safe and sound operation of the institutions it supervises. The final rule makes technical and conforming changes that will allow certain provisions to apply to national banks and federal savings associations and provides clarity on OCC licensing offices’ responsibilities. The rule also updates the description of the OCC supervision structure and contact information.
View the published Federal Register notice.
View the OCC press release.Topic: Other Developments -
European Regulators Announce Delay for Delivery of Draft Technical Standards under the Market Abuse Regulation and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation and Directive
05/13/2015
The European Securities and Markets Authority published letters between itself and the European Commission which set out their agreement for the deadline for delivery by ESMA of technical standards due under the Market Abuse Regulation, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation to be postponed to the end of September 2015. The extension is a result of the European Commission conducting an early legal review of draft technical standards. The early legal review will assess the legality and legislative consistency of technical standards under the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities V Directive, the Transparency Directive, the Central Securities Depository Regulation, MAR and MiFID II.
View ESMA’s letter.
Topic: Other Developments -
European Supervisory Authorities Publish Recommendations for Improving the EU Securitization Framework
05/12/2015
The European Supervisory Authorities published a report setting out the outcome of their review of EU legislative disclosure and due diligence requirements for securitizations and making recommendations for removing inconsistencies across the EU framework. The recommendations constitute the ESA’s response to the European Commission’s consultation on securitization published in February 2015 as part of the Capital Markets Union initiative. The EU framework for structured finance instruments, covering investor due diligence, originator, issuer and sponsor retention and disclosure requirements, is established under a number of EU legislative measures including the Prospectus Directive, the Capital Requirements legislation, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, the Credit Rating Agency Regulation and Solvency II. The ESAs are recommending: (i) harmonization of due diligence requirements across investor types; (ii) that investor due diligence needs and requirements are met by the disclosure requirements; (iii) a standardized investor report which is available in a centralized public space; (iv) that loan by loan data should be provided to investors; (v) that data providers should be able to fulfill disclosure requirements provided the data owner retains responsibility for the quality of the information; (vi) that all investors should be able to conduct stress tests on all types of structured finance instruments; (vii) a review of the definitions and key terms in the legislation with a comprehensive glossary to support the framework; and (viii) mandatory disclosure requirements for all structured finance instruments admitted to trading on an EU regulated market or offered to the public.
Topic: Other Developments -
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Creates Wholesale Product Office
05/08/2015
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced the creation of a new group called the Wholesale Product Office. The WPO, currently a function within the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Executive Office, manages the Fedwire Funds, Fedwire Securities, and the National Settlement Service. Richard P. Dzina will serve as the head of the WPO as of July 1, 2015, as well as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Management Committee.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments -
Jeremiah O. Norton Submits Resignation as Director of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
05/08/2015
Jeremiah O. Norton submitted his resignation as Director of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Mr. Norton has served as Director of the FDIC since April 16, 2012. His resignation will become effective on June 5, 2015.
View the press release.Topic: Other Developments
The following posts provide a snapshot of selected UK, EU and global financial regulatory developments of interest to banks, investment firms, broker-dealers, market infrastructures, asset managers and corporates.
