The Financial Stability Board has published a progress report on reforms to major interest rate benchmarks. The report provides the FSB's annual update on progress taken by the official sector and market participants to move from interbank offered rates to overnight risk-free rates by the end of 2021 in line with the FSB's 2014 recommendations. The FSB highlights that the continued reliance by global financial markets on LIBOR poses significant financial stability risks and urges all participants to continue with their efforts to transition to the alternative risk-free rates. The FSB also warns regulated firms to expect increased examination from regulators of their efforts to transition as the end of 2021 approaches.

View the report.

The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a list of the entities that are awaiting their national regulator’s approval for authorization and registration as EU benchmark administrators. Under the EU Benchmark Regulation, existing EU and third country benchmark administrators are entitled to apply for authorization to continue as administrators.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has launched a consultation on proposed procedural rules for penalties imposed on third-country CCPs, trade repositories and credit rating agencies. Responses are invited by January 18, 2020. ESMA intends to finalize its technical advice by the end of Q1 2020.

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A new Regulation amending the European Market Infrastructure Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, introducing changes to the procedures and authorities involved in the authorization of central counterparties and the requirements for the recognition of third-country CCPs. The Regulation, known as “EMIR 2.2”, is part of the EU’s push to enhance the regulation of CCPs amid concerns regarding potential CCP failures given their increasing systemic importance. 

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The European Commission has published a Regulation amending the EU Benchmarks Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union. The amending Regulation aims to introduce minimum requirements for EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks to improve the accuracy and integrity of those benchmarks for their users. 

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The Bank of England, U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority and U.K. Financial Conduct Authority have published a shared policy summary and consultation papers on strengthening operational resilience in the financial services sector. The consultation impacts banks, building societies, PRA-designated investment firms, firms subject to the Solvency II Directive, recognized investment exchanges, CCPs, central securities depositories, payment system operators, FCA enhanced scope SM&CR firms and entities authorized and registered under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 and Electronic Money Regulations 2011. Responses to the consultation should be submitted by April 3, 2020.

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The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has published a letter in which it responds to the Financial Stability Board's November 15, 2019 letter on pre-cessation triggers. The co-Chairs of the FSB's Official Sector Steering Group requested ISDA to include a "pre-cessation trigger" alongside the cessation trigger in its standard language in derivatives contracts, via either definitions for new contracts or in a single protocol (without embedded optionality) for outstanding contracts. The pre-cessation trigger would cause a LIBOR-based contract to fall back to an alternative reference rate in the event that the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, as the regulator of LIBOR, deemed that LIBOR was no longer representative.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a statement on conduct risk during the LIBOR transition, which is due to be completed by the end of 2021. The statement is in the form of questions and answers and sets out the FCA's expectations of firms relating to governance and accountability, replacing LIBOR with alternative rates in existing contracts, offering new products with alternative rates, communicating with customers about the transition from LIBOR and best practice for firms investing on behalf of clients.

View the FCA's statement.

The Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, has given a keynote speech at the Guildhall in London covering, amongst other things, the EU’s proposals for the development of the European sustainable finance framework and a proposed extension to the temporary equivalence regime for U.K. central counterparties.

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The European Central Bank has published a report by the working group on euro risk-free rates on €STR fall-back arrangements. The EU Benchmark Regulation requires regulated entities to have put in place written plans on the steps that they would take should a benchmark used in their contracts be materially amended or ceases. The Working Group recommends that instead of selecting an alternative rate, regulated entities should take into account the ECB's regular review of €STR's methodology and the policies and procedures for the possible cessation of €STR, together with the use of contractual fallbacks.

View the report.

Following its consultation earlier this year, the European Securities and Markets Authority has published final reports and the final technical advice on third-country CCP tiering, comparable compliance and fees under draft revisions to the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, known as EMIR 2.2. EMIR 2.2 will change the requirements for the supervision of both EU and third-country CCPs, and includes the controversial formal EU "location policy" for CCPs. The technical advice will assist the Commission in preparing the final delegated legislation that will supplement the EMIR 2.2.

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A Commission Delegated Regulation amending the EU Auctioning Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Delegated Regulation will apply directly in all EU Member States from November 28, 2019. The EU Auctioning Regulation provides for EU emission allowances to be auctioned and specifies key aspects of the auctions, including their design, timing and eligibility requirements. 

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The European Central Bank has published a report by the working group on euro risk-free rates providing high-level recommendations for fall-back provisions in contracts for cash products and derivatives transactions referencing EURIBOR. The recommendations are not legally binding and market participants can decide whether, and to the extent to which, they wish to adopt them. EURIBOR were identified as critical benchmarks for the purposes of the EU Benchmarks Regulation  and the methodology for calculating EURIBOR has been revised to be Benchmark Regulation-compliant, to be implemented by the end of 2019.

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The European Central Bank has published a report by the working group on euro risk-free rates on the financial accounting implications of the transition from EONIA to €STR and the introduction of €STR-based fallbacks for EURIBOR. 

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The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures has prepared a “toolkit” to assist central banks to reduce the risk of wholesale payments fraud related to endpoint security. The Financial Stability Institute at the Bank for International Settlements has also announced that it will make tutorials on wholesale payments security freely available to central banks on request.

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The Council of the European Union has adopted the amendments to EU law on CCP supervision. The adopted laws revising the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR 2.2) will change how both EU CCPs and third-country CCPs are supervised, and implement into legislation the controversial EU "location policy" for the largest third-country CCPs. According to the Council's press release, EMIR 2.2 is scheduled to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union on December 12, 2019 and would come into force 20 days later. The legislative process relevant to EMIR 2.2 has taken place with the U.K. exit from the European Union in the background and many of the changes relevant to third-country CCPs are effectively a response to the U.K.'s decision to leave the EU, given that two of the three largest European Union clearing houses are U.K.-based.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a final report and final Guidelines on standardized procedures and messaging protocols for investment firms under the Central Securities Depositaries Regulation.

CSDR requires investment firms to take steps to limit settlement fails, including by ensuring that they have all the necessary transaction data on the day of the transaction. Investment firms must also have in place arrangements with their professional clients to ensure prompt communication of an allocation of securities to the transaction, confirmation of that allocation and confirmation of the acceptance or rejection of the terms in good time before the intended settlement date. The content of the messages and deadlines for sending them is contained in the Regulatory Technical Standards on settlement discipline (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/1229). The Guidelines clarify the scope of these requirements and provide guidance on the standardized procedures and messaging standards to be used for firms to comply with the requirement.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a consultation paper on aligning the trading obligation under the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation with the recent changes made to the clearing obligation under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation by the EMIR Refit Regulation. Responses to the consultation should be submitted by November 22, 2019. ESMA intends to submit its final report to the European Commission in early 2020, with the Commission’s report to the European Parliament and Council expected by December 18, 2020.

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The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities has published its 2020 work program, outlining revisions to the Joint Committee’s scope of work and the matters it will focus on in 2020. The Joint Committee consists of representatives from the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, the European Securities and Markets Authority, the European Commission and the European Systemic Risk Board. 

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has published its Annual Work Programme for 2020. The Work Programme sets out ESMA’s focus areas for 2020 and provides details of expected outputs within each of the areas. In 2019, the European Council, Parliament and Commission agreed on new tasks for ESMA, meaning that ESMA will take on an enhanced role in areas including direct supervision, supervisory convergence and investor protection. The final Regulations amending the scope of the European Supervisory Authorities’ work mandates are expected to be published in the second half of 2019.

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The European Commission's Technical Expert Group has published a final report on EU climate benchmarks and benchmark Environmental, Social and Governance disclosures. The Commission set up the TEG on Sustainable Finance when it published its legislative proposal for amending the EU Benchmark Regulation as part of its action plan on Sustainable Finance. The proposed legislation will create two new categories of low carbon benchmarks: the EU Climate Transition Benchmark (EU CTB) and the EU Paris-aligned Benchmark (EU PAB). It also includes ESG disclosure requirements for all investment benchmarks. The final text of the proposal has been agreed and it is expected to be published in October/November 2019.

The TEG report provides technical advice to the Commission on: (i) the minimum ESG disclosure requirements for all benchmarks, except interest rates and currency benchmarks, and specific ESG disclosure requirements for EU CTBs and EU PABs; and (ii) the minimum technical requirements for the methodology of EU CTBs and EU PABs. In addition, the report includes recommendations on other areas of work that are connected to the benchmark ESG disclosures, such as the proposed EU Classification System of Sustainable Activities (i.e. the EU Taxonomy) and changes to the disclosure requirements in the Markets in Financial Instruments package to take into account ESG disclosures.

View the report.

Following its previous two consultations, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association has launched a consultation on the proposed final parameters that will apply to alternative risk-free rates if derivatives fall backs are triggered. Responses to the consultation should be provided by October 23, 2019. ISDA will amend the 2006 ISDA Definitions based on the feedback and also intends to publish a protocol so that market participants can include fall backs in legacy IBOR contracts, if needed. Both documents are expected to be finalized before the end of 2019, ready for implementation in 2020.

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The European Commission has published a Communication on finalizing preparations for the withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU on November 1, 2019. The Commission stresses the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit on October 31, 2019 and asks all stakeholders to take action now to finalize their plans for the situation, noting that the contingency measures that are in place can only mitigate against some of the more significant disruptions. The Commission warns that a further delay to the date that the U.K. exits the EU should not be assumed, in that a delay may not be requested by the U.K. government nor granted by the EU.

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The Financial Stability Board has published a summary of an industry workshop, held on May 21, 2019, on continuity of access to financial market infrastructures for firms in resolution. The FSB held the workshop to assist in its efforts to monitor implementation of the FSB Guidance on continuity of access to FMI for firms in resolution, published in July 2017. The Guidance provides for arrangements to allow continuity of access to FMIs for a global systemically important bank in resolution. The Guidance applies to FMIs as providers of clearing, payment, securities settlement and/or custody services, to G-SIBs and other banks that are subject to resolution (referred to here as firms) and recovery planning requirements, as well as the G-SIB resolution authorities and regulators of the FMIs.

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A Decision of the European Central Bank has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Decision supplements the ECB's Regulation on the oversight of systemically important payment systems. The Decision sets out the procedures and conditions for a regulator to follow when seeking to obtain information and documents from the operator of a SIPS, requiring a SIPS operator to appoint an independent expert to carry out an investigation or review on the operation of the SIPS or conduct on-site inspections.

​The Decision enters into force on September 5, 2019 and applies to the Eurozone regulators of Eurozone SIPS.

View the ECB Decision.

Two equivalence decisions under the EU Benchmark Regulation have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The first decision declares as equivalent to the EU regime the legal and supervisory framework of Australia applicable to the administrators of financial benchmarks that are declared significant benchmarks by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The second decision declares as equivalent to the EU regime the legal and supervisory framework of Singapore applicable to the administrators of financial benchmarks that are designated as designated benchmarks by means of the Securities and Futures (Designated Benchmarks) Order 2018. Both decisions will enter into force on August 19, 2019.

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The European Money Markets Institute has announced that EONIA will be published daily at or soon after 9:15 CET, as from October 2, 2019.

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The Bank of England and Financial Services Act 2016 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2019 have been made. The Regulations bring into force, from December 9, 2019, the expanded Senior Managers and Certification Regimes for all Financial Conduct Authority solo-regulated firms authorized under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, which include asset managers and investment firms carrying out certain activities. These firms need to complete their initial certification assessments for existing certified staff and new hires by December 9, 2020, although they must have identified certification staff by December 9, 2019. A transitional provision states that the regime will only apply to Claims Management Companies that are authorized by the FCA by December 9, 2019 and to other CMCs on the date that they obtain their authorization.

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The European Money Markets Institute has published a Benchmark Statement on the administration of Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor). Earlier in July this year, the EMMI obtained authorization as the administrator of Euribor, which is a critical benchmark under the EU Benchmark Regulation. EMMI has made reforms to Euribor in order to ensure it meets the requirements of the Regulation, including adopting a new hybrid methodology, the phased implementation of which will be completed by the end of 2019.

View EMMI's announcement and the Benchmark Statement.

Following its consultation earlier this year, the working group charged with implementing the European market's move away from EONIA, has published a recommended legal action plan for new and legacy contracts referencing EONIA. The implementation of the recommended legal measures is intended to address issues arising from the transition from EONIA to the euro short-term rate (known as €STR). €STR is a risk-free rate and, with a fixed spread, will replace EONIA as a reference rate in a variety of euro-denominated financial contracts, including derivatives, collateral remuneration for derivatives and cash products such as commercial paper, repurchase agreements and default interest payable under syndicated loans.

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The European Commission's Technical Expert Group on sustainable finance has launched a call for feedback on the taxonomy for sustainable economic activities. The TEG's Report on Taxonomy was published on June 18, 2019, alongside the Commission's Guidelines on reporting climate-related information, an interim TEG report on EU climate benchmarks and a TEG report on an EU green bond standard. The Report on Taxonomy links to the EU's proposed Regulation on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment.

Feedback on the TEG's Report on Taxonomy should be submitted by September 13, 2019.

View the Report on Taxonomy.

View further details on the call for feedback.

View the Commission's Guidelines on reporting climate-related information.

An amending Commission Delegated Regulation to the existing Commission Delegated Regulation (Regulation 2017/565) on requirements for participants in SME growth markets has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Regulation 2017/565 supplements related provisions under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, which establishes "SME growth markets" as a new type of trading venue for small and medium sized enterprises.

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Huw van Steenis, the Bank of England financier appointed by the BoE in 2018 to review the future of the U.K. financial system, has published his "Future of Finance" report, setting out a vision for the medium-term future of the U.K. financial system and the BoE's role in supporting that. The report was based on consultations with entrepreneurs, financiers, tech firms, global investors, consumer groups, charities, policymakers and business leaders across the U.K. and overseas. In response, the BoE has published a document which sets out the actions it intends to take to deal with the challenges and opportunities identified in the report.

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The European Commission has published new, non-binding Guidelines on reporting climate-related information. The new Guidelines are supplementary to the guidelines issued by the Commission in 2017 on reporting non-financial information. The new Guidelines are intended to assist large public entities (with over 500 employees) to report climate-related information under the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive. The new Guidelines incorporate the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board's taskforce on climate-related financial disclosures, taking into account the EU's forthcoming taxonomy on sustainable activities. The new Guidelines include guidance on reporting of climate-related information related to business models, key performance indicators, risks and their management. Further guidelines for banks and insurance companies are set out in the annex.

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The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Over the Counter Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 have been made and will come into force on July 9, 2019.

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The Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority, Steven Maijoor, has requested clarity from the European Commission on the methodology for calculating the clearing threshold of a Financial Counterparty that is part of a non-financial group under the revised European Market Infrastructure Regulation (known as EMIR REFIT).

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a Policy Statement setting out the final rules governing the FCA's authority to impose sanctions on persons for breaching requirements imposed under the U.K. Securitization Regulations 2018, which implements the EU Securitization Regulation. The Policy Statement also includes proposals on how the FCA will apply its existing supervisory and enforcement processes to securitization repositories (the bodies responsible for collecting and maintaining records of securitizations) after the U.K.'s exit from the EU.

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The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures and the International Organization of Securities Commissions have published a joint discussion paper on central counterparty default management auctions. Comments should be provided by August 9, 2019.

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The European Central Bank, together with those national central banks that have adopted the Euro (collectively known as the Eurosystem), has launched a consultation on proposals for a harmonized European system for issuing and distributing Euro denominated debt securities within the EU. The consultation paper seeks feedback on the state of the existing market, the most appropriate ways to deal with certain issues faced by the market and the measures the Eurosystem has proposed for a potential new system.

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The Regulation amending the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, known as EMIR Refit or EMIR 2.1, has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The EMIR Refit amendments aim to introduce a simplified and more proportionate approach to certain aspects of EMIR as part of the EU's broader "Regulatory Fitness and Performance Program".

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The International Organization of Securities Commissions has launched a consultation on the key issues to consider for regulating crypto-asset trading platforms (referred to as CTPs). The consultation paper, which aims to assist IOSCO member jurisdictions to assess the issues and risks relating to CTPs, is based on information obtained from national regulators on the operation of CTPs and their current or proposed regulatory approaches. The consultation does not cover Initial Coin Offerings, focussing instead on the secondary markets. Responses to the consultation are due by July 29, 2019.

The consultation paper describes certain issues and risks related to trading of crypto-assets on CTPs. The paper also sets out key considerations and corresponding toolkits for each consideration. The considerations are: (i) access to CTPs; (ii) safeguarding assets; (iii) conflicts of interest; (iv) operations of CTPs; (v) market integrity; (vi) price discovery; and (vii) technology. The toolkits are for regulators to use to address the key considerations and related issues and risks. In addition, IOSCO notes that useful guidance on the issues is already available in its Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation and the Assessment Methodology.

View the consultation paper.

The European Securities and Markets Authority has launched consultations on proposed technical advice on third-country CCP tiering, comparable compliance and fees under draft revisions to the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, known as EMIR 2.2. EMIR 2.2 will change the requirements for the supervision of both EU and third-country CCPs, and includes the controversial formal EU "location policy" for CCPs. The text of EMIR 2.2 was agreed between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on March 13, 2019, but has not yet been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, the European Commission requested technical advice from ESMA on May 3, 2019 and ESMA has begun that preparatory work. The consultations close on July 29, 2019. ESMA intends to submit its final reports and technical advice to the European Commission in Q3 and Q4 2019.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has launched a consultation on its proposed guidelines for the information that should be reported periodically by trade repositories. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist ESMA in its supervisory role by streamlining the periodic element of the information collection process. Responses to the consultation should be submitted by August 27, 2019.

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The International Swaps and Derivatives Association has published two consultation papers on fallbacks for benchmarks. The first consultation paper concerns proposed amendments to ISDA's standard documentation to implement fallbacks based on alternative risk-free rates for certain key Interbank Offered Rates (USD LIBOR, Hong Kong's HIBOR, Canada's CDOR and Singapore's SOR), should the relevant IBOR be permanently discontinued. ISDA is intending to amend and restate the rate options in the 2006 ISDA Definitions to ensure that a fallback will apply to derivative transactions entered into on or after the effective date of the amendments and incorporate the 2006 ISDA Definitions. ISDA also intends to publish a protocol to help ensure inclusion of the fallbacks in pre-existing derivative transactions. This consultation follows ISDA's consultation last July on these changes for GBP LIBOR, CHF LIBOR, JPY LIBOR, TIBOR, Euroyen TIBOR and BBSW. ISDA confirms that the feedback to that July 2018 consultation indicates that market participants prefer the "compounded setting in arrears rate" to address the difference in tenors, and the "historical mean/median approach" to address the difference in risk premia. Based on the feedback to both of these consultations, ISDA intends to implement fallbacks for the relevant benchmarks by the end of 2019.

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The Payment Systems Regulator, the regulatory body responsible for monitoring the payment systems industry in the U.K., has published a second consultation paper requesting feedback on its proposals for a mandatory "Confirmation of Payee" service, together with a draft direction setting out deadlines by which the six largest payment services providers should provide such services. The Confirmation of Payee service is being developed to assist in the PSR's fight against "Authorised Push Payment" scams - involving theft of money via fraudulent payment requests made to individuals and businesses - and accidental misdirected payments, which together cause millions of pounds in losses to individuals and businesses annually. Certain payment service providers have committed to introducing a Confirmation of Payee process. However, the PSR considers that progress on doing so has been too slow. The consultation closes on June 05, 2019.

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A Commission Implementing Decision declaring equivalence of the Japanese legal, supervisory and enforcement arrangements for risk mitigation techniques and exchange of collateral has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The European Market Infrastructure Regulation requires counterparties to uncleared derivatives to comply with requirements on timely confirmation, portfolio compression, procedures for reconciliation of disputes and the exchange of collateral, collectively known as the risk mitigation techniques. The European Commission is empowered to adopt an equivalence decision declaring that the requirements of a third country are equivalent to the EMIR requirements on risk mitigation. The USA has also benefited from such a decision in respect of its risk mitigation arrangements.

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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued two no-action letters to ensure that existing regulatory relief and substituted compliance measures for EU firms will continue to apply to U.K. firms following the U.K.’s departure from the EU.  The CFTC said that the no-action letters will bring greater clarity to the market in light of Brexit and reflect the CFTC’s commitment to ensuring that Brexit will not create regulatory uncertainty in global derivatives markets.  The relief is intended to cover both “no-deal” and “soft” Brexit scenarios.  The relief would apply upon the departure of the U.K. (and would thus take effect at the end of the most recent extension of the departure date to October 31, 2019).

CFTC Letter 19-08 extends to U.K. entities substituted compliance measures originally issued for EU entities.  These measures include comparability determinations for certain entity-level, transaction-level and uncleared margin requirements (the EU Comparability Determinations), along with an exemption for EU-authorized multilateral trading facilities and organised trading facilities from the CFTC’s swap execution facility registration requirements.

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The European Council has published its decision to extend the deadline for the U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU until May 22, 2019, provided that the Withdrawal Agreement passes through the House of Commons by March 29, 2019.

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The Bank of England has published details of its prospective new role as supervisor of financial markets infrastructure at the end of the implementation period following the U.K.’s exit from the EU. 

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The European Commission has published its latest progress report on building of the Capital Markets Union. The CMU is an EU initiative which aims to deepen and further integrate the capital markets of Member States, further safeguard financial stability, strengthen the international role of the euro and diversify sources of finances for small and medium enterprises. The CMU aims to allow consumers to buy cheaper and better investment products, and enable financial services providers to scale up by offering services in other Member States.

The progress report notes that the CMU is an important Single Market project that will give increased access to capital for both companies and citizens, especially in smaller countries. A well-developed CMU increases the EU’s attractiveness to foreign investment and complements the EU’s agenda of free and fair trade. Broadly, the Commission has delivered measures that it had committed to take forwards at the beginning of the mandate and put in place certain "building blocks" of the CMU. However, the report notes that it may take time for the impact of the Commission’s actions to be realized.

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