The European Commission has published a Communication, outlining its work plan for 2019. The Communication is addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The Communication discusses the ongoing challenges for the EU in the run-up to the European Parliamentary elections and the post-Brexit Summit in Sibiu at which a new multi-annual framework for the EU27 will be finalized.

Separately published Annexes to the Communication relating to: (i) new initiatives; (ii) REFIT initiatives; (iii) priority pending proposals; (iv) legislative initiatives that have been withdrawn; and (v) a list of envisaged repeals. Priority pending proposals of particular relevance to financial institutions include legislative proposals relating to the forthcoming sustainable finance package, cross-border distribution of collective investment schemes, crowdfunding, amendments to the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, prudential regulation and supervision of investment firms and a proposed amending regulation relating to minimum loss coverage for non-performing exposures.

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HM Treasury has published explanatory information on the draft Financial Conglomerates and Other Financial Groups (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, which it intends to publish in due course. The draft Regulations will amend deficiencies in the U.K. legislation that implemented the EU Financial Conglomerates Directive. FICOD sets out specific solvency requirements designed to prevent different entities in a conglomerate from using the same capital more than once as a buffer against risk. The Directive also sets out requirements for management controls, risk management and for information sharing between relevant regulators of conglomerates. In the U.K., FICOD has been implemented by the Financial Conglomerates and Other Financial Groups Regulations 2004, as well as through provisions in regulatory rulebooks.

The explanatory information explains that the draft Regulations will amend several deficiencies to ensure the U.K.'s FICOR Regulations remain operative in a U.K.-only context.

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HM Treasury has published in draft format the Over the Counter Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 – the U.K.'s draft statutory instrument that would implement a post-Brexit EMIR regime, together with explanatory guidance. The draft EMIR Regulations will affect CCPs, clearing members, their clients, Trade Repositories, TR users and U.K. persons entering into derivatives contracts. They will also, like EMIR, have impacts for persons around the world which enter into derivatives with U.K. persons, through U.K. clearing members or that are ultimately held with CCPs that are regulated or recognized in the U.K.

The draft EMIR Regulations have been prepared to ensure that there continues to be an effective regulatory framework for OTC derivatives, CCPs and TRs in the U.K. after exit day. Onshoring of EMIR has been dealt with in three separate pieces of legislation. The draft EMIR Regulations should be read in conjunction with the Central Counterparties (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 the Trade Repositories (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, which were published in draft form on July 24, 2018 and October 5, 2018 respectively.

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HM Treasury has published explanatory guidance on potential changes to the U.K.'s laws on ring-fencing in preparation for a "no deal" scenario in which the U.K. leaves the EU on March 29, 2019. The draft Ring-Fenced Bodies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 have not yet been published. HM Treasury intends to publish the draft Regulations in due course and to lay them before Parliament before exit day.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published an evaluation paper on the impact of bringing seven additional benchmarks within the U.K.'s regulatory and supervisory perimeter in April 2015, in response to the recommendations of the Fair and Effective Markets Review.  The necessary changes to the FCA's Handbook and guidance were effected by the Benchmarks (Amendment) Instrument 2015, a legal instrument made by the FCA. In the evaluation paper, the FCA clarifies that this benchmarks-related evaluation does not cover changes due to other policies that affect benchmarks, such as the EU Benchmarks Regulation or principles set by EU or international bodies.

The evaluation has been conducted in line with the FCA's approach to ex-post evaluation of the impact of its work, which it outlined in a discussion paper in April 2018. The FCA has conducted the benchmarks-related evaluation to understand: (i) the impact of the Benchmarks (Amendment) Instrument 2015 on markets and firms' costs; and (ii) whether the FCA's regulatory intervention met its objective of increasing the robustness of benchmarks and restoring market confidence.

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HM Treasury has published a draft of the Central Securities Depositories (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, along with explanatory information. 

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The U.K. Serious Fraud Office has charged a former banker with conspiracy to defraud, as part of its investigation into the manipulation of the Euro Interbank Offered Rate.

The former banker was arrested in Italy in August 2018 after his trip to the country activated a European Arrest Warrant that had been secured by the SFO in 2016. Italian authorities ruled on October 12, 2018 that he should be extradited to the U.K. and he was charged with conspiracy to defraud at Westminster Magistrates’ court on October 20, 2018.

The next hearing will take place at Southwark Crown Court on October 24, 2018.

View the SFO's announcement.

The European Securities and Markets Authority has published an own-initiative report prepared by its Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group. The purpose of the report is to provide advice to ESMA on steps it might take to contain the risks of Initial Coin Offerings and crypto-assets, on top of existing regulation.

In the report, the term “crypto-assets” is used to refer to coins, tokens, virtual and cryptocurrencies or other digital or virtual assets collectively. The acronym "ICO" is used to refer to an initial offering of any crypto-asset. The report sets out a taxonomy of crypto-assets, based on the distinction between payment tokens, utility tokens, asset tokens and hybrids used by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has launched the Green FinTech Challenge for firms developing innovative products and services to assist in the U.K.’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The Challenge is part of the FCA's Innovate project. Successful applicants to the challenge will benefit from authorization support, live testing in the regulatory sandbox and FCA guidance. Applications for inclusion in the challenge should be submitted by January 11, 2019 and successful applicants will be notified by the end of Q1 2019. This is the first FinTech challenge run by the FCA and is separate from the FCA's other Innovate services, which should continue to be accessed by firms developing propositions that fall outside the scope of the challenge. Once the challenge is complete, it will consider whether to launch more challenges.

View the FCA's Green FinTech Challenge webpage.

The Financial Action Task Force has published the outcomes of its plenary on October 17-19, 2018. The FATF considered key issues such as the operations and streamlining of the FATF, major and other strategic initiatives and mutual evaluations.

One of the major initiatives covered by the plenary was the regulation of virtual assets. The G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors communiqué following their July 2018 Buenos Aires meeting called on the FATF to clarify, by October 2018, how its global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards apply to crypto assets.  At its October plenary, the FATF adopted amendments to the FATF Recommendations and Glossary at the plenary and issued a statement on the regulation of virtual assets. The FATF has done this to clarify that its standards apply to exchanges, wallet providers and providers of financial services for Initial Coin Offerings. Jurisdictions should therefore ensure that virtual asset service providers are subject to AML/CTF regulations. However, jurisdictions are able to choose which category of regulated entity virtual asset service providers should fall into. 

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The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has published a consultation paper entitled "Leverage ratio treatment of client-cleared derivatives," seeking views from stakeholders on whether a targeted and limited revision of the leverage ratio exposure measure is warranted with respect to the treatment of client cleared derivatives.

On the publication of the finalized Basel III framework in December 2017, the Basel Committee stated that it would continue to monitor the impact of the Basel III leverage ratio’s treatment of client-cleared derivative transactions. It confirmed that it would review the impact of the leverage ratio on banks’ provision of clearing services and any consequent impact on the resilience of central counterparty clearing. The Basel Committee has completed its review and is of the view that only a strong evidence-based case would justify making revisions to the current leverage ratio treatment of client cleared derivatives.

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The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has issued a statement on leverage ratio "window-dressing" behavior by banks.

To comply with the Basel III leverage ratio standard, among other things, banks are required to publicly disclose their leverage ratio, calculated on a quarter-end basis, or more frequently in certain jurisdictions. The Basel Committee has noted what may be a tendency in banks to engage in so-called window-dressing by temporarily reducing transaction volumes around key reference dates, which has the effect of allowing banks to report and publicly disclose higher leverage ratios.

The Basel Committee states that window dressing is unacceptable as it undermines the policy objectives of the leverage ratio standard and risks disrupting the operations of financial markets. The Basel Committee calls on banks to desist from undertaking transactions for window-dressing purposes and makes several suggestions for actions by supervisors to address these concerns. These include increasing the frequency of reporting and supervisory monitoring, focused supervisory inspections and/or additional public disclosures. The Basel Committee will continue to monitor potential window-dressing behavior and may consider adjusting the Pillar 1 minimum capital requirements and/or Pillar 3 disclosure requirements if necessary.

View the Basel Committee's Statement.

The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a "Dear Remuneration Committee Chair" letter that it has sent to Remuneration Committee Chairs of proportionality Level One firms (that is, banks, building societies and PRA-designated investment firms with relevant total assets exceeding £50 billion as at the relevant date) ahead of its annual review of remuneration policies and practices.

In the letter, the PRA explains that, with effect from the 2018/19 remuneration review, the PRA will no longer provide a non-objection statement to the proposed communication or distribution of variable remuneration awards by Level One firms. The PRA states that its oversight of Level One firms' remuneration practices will increasingly draw on the principles for governance set out in the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, placing more emphasis on how the Chairs of firms Remuneration Committees discharge their responsibilities under the SM&CR and on how Remuneration Committees carry out their role of oversight and independent challenge under the PRA's Remuneration Rules.

Going forward, Level One firms can continue to expect engagement throughout the year from their PRA supervisors on their remuneration policies, practices and processes and, where needed, feedback on issues the firm should address. Level One firms should submit a remuneration policy statement and quantitative data tables three months ahead of the firm's preferred final feedback date (that is, the date previously referred to as the "non-objection date"), and an update to the figures at least two weeks before the final feedback date.

View the Letter.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched its Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology (FinHub), designed to engage investors and market participants on FinTech issues and initiatives.

Valerie A. Szczepanik, the SEC's Senior Advisor for Digital Assets and Innovation and Associate Director in the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance, will lead FinHub, which will focus on topics such as distributed ledger technology (DLT) and digital assets, automated investment advice, digital marketplace financing, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The SEC's various divisions will assign staff with expertise in the FinTech space. inHub will replace and build on the efforts of several of the SEC's internal FinTech working groups.

The SEC said that FinHub will provide a platform for market participants to engage directly with SEC staff on innovations and technological developments, publicize the SEC's FinTech-related activity on the FinHub webpage, host FinTech events (including a forum on DLT and digital assets planned for 2019) and act as a resource for SEC staff to acquire and disseminate FinTech-related information within the agency. Further, it will serve as the SEC's liaison to domestic and global regulators in respect of innovations in financial, regulatory and supervisory systems.

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The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has published a final version of its Stress Testing Principles, which replace its 2009 Principles for Stress Testing and Supervision. The Basel Committee conducted a review of the 2009 Principles during 2017 and launched a consultation on proposed revisions in December 2017.

The new principles reflect the growth in importance of stress testing since the 2009 version was produced and its evolution into a critical element of risk management for banks as well as a core tool for both banking supervisors and macroprudential authorities.

The new principles are also set at a higher level than the previous version, so that the principles can apply across many banks and jurisdictions and so that they are robust to developments in stress testing practices. The principles focus on the core elements of stress testing frameworks, including the objectives, governance, policies, processes, methodology, resources and documentation that guide stress testing. Each principle is followed by a short description of considerations that are equally relevant for banks and authorities, along with additional considerations for banks or authorities.

View the Stress Testing Principles.

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a Feedback Statement on the Digital Regulatory Reporting project it began earlier in 2018. The Feedback Statement summarizes the feedback the FCA received from the call for input it published in January 2018 and sets out the FCA's responses.

The FCA is working with the Bank of England in the RegTech sphere to explore ways of using technology to link regulation, compliance procedures and firms' policies and standards together with firms' transactional applications and databases. Most respondents to the FCA's call for input agreed in particular that digital regulatory reporting could bring increased efficiency, among other benefits. Some respondents expressed concerns about costs of implementation and called for a period of overlap were digital regulatory reporting to be introduced. Overall, the FCA is encouraged by the feedback.

The Feedback Statement confirms that participants to a pilot launched in June 2018 to further explore the proof of concept for a move to digital regulatory reporting will publish their findings in a technical paper in Q1 2019. The FCA will continue with workstreams under the project and should a business case be made, it will launch a consultation and a cost benefit analysis. While the FCA is focusing on implementation of digital regulatory reporting in the U.K., it also believes that multinational adoption could bring benefits and is in discussions with its counterparts internationally.

View the Feedback Statement (FCA FS 18/2).

View details of the FCA's call for input.

View details of the terms of reference for the project's pilot phase.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commissioner Brian Quintenz has given a wide-ranging speech at the GITEX Technology Week Conference in Dubai addressing a number of key issues faced by the CFTC in considering how to regulate smart contracts. While he acknowledged that there are still many questions to be answered on smart contract regulation, Commissioner Quintenz expressed a number of important views that should make market participants pause before assuming that activity in smart contracts will avoid CFTC scrutiny.

Commissioner Quintenz explained that, in his view, the first step the CFTC should take when considering a smart contract is to understand the basic nature of the contract and whether it is within the CFTC's jurisdiction. For example, is the contract a product that must be traded on an exchange? Does the protocol itself perform the functions of an exchange, which may trigger registration requirements? While the answers will of course be different for every smart contract, Commissioner Quintenz made clear that he believes existing CFTC regulations can and should be applied to such contracts where appropriate.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published its finalized Approach to Competition, following feedback to its consultation between December 2017 and March 2018 on a draft of its approach document. The FCA's Approach to Competition should be read alongside the FCA Mission, which was first published in October 2016.

In the approach document, the FCA outlines its "competition objective" of promoting effective competition in the interests of consumers in particular markets and its "competition duty," which requires it to discharge its general functions in a way that promotes effective competition in the interests of consumers. It then explains how it advances its competition objective by: (i) using market studies to examine market structures and dynamics and imposing rule changes to improve consumer outcomes if necessary; (ii) using its powers under the Competition Act 1998 to investigate anti-competitive behavior under U.K. and EU law; and (iii) implementing regulation with the aim of supporting competition in the interests of consumers.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has announced that the application window has opened for cohort five of its regulatory sandbox. The FCA announced the successful applicants to the previous cohort in July 2018.

The FCA's sandbox is part of the FCA's Project Innovate, which was launched in 2014.  The regulatory sandbox has been in operation since 2016 and provides a controlled environment for firms that satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria to test innovative products and services with real customers.

The deadline for completed applications for cohort five is November 30, 2018.

View the FCA webpage.

View details of the successful applicants to cohort four.

The Prudential Regulation Authority has published a consultation paper on a draft Supervisory Statement on managing the financial risks from climate change. The consultation follows the PRA's publication in September 2018 of its report "Transition in thinking: The impact of climate change on the U.K. banking sector." The consultation paper is relevant to banks, insurers, re-insurers, building societies and PRA-designated investment firms. The PRA wants firms to take a strategic approach to financial risks from climate change by taking into account current and credible risks and identifying actions needed now to mitigate existing and future risks.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a Discussion Paper on climate change and green finance in which it calls for comment on potential changes to its regulatory approach in these areas. The Discussion Paper sets out specific action that the FCA intends to take in the short term in four focus areas - capital markets disclosures, public reporting requirements, green finance and pensions.

First, the FCA is considering whether the regulatory approach to disclosures by issuers in the capital markets should be amended. In particular, the FCA is asking for comments on: (i) the difficulties that issuers may have in determining materiality of climate-related issues such that a specific disclosure would be warranted; (ii) whether investors would benefit from greater comparability of disclosures; (iii) whether further prescribed requirements on climate-related disclosures should be introduced to facilitate more consistent disclosures by issuers. This final point includes whether the introduction of a "comply or explain" approach to the Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures would facilitate more effective markets.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a further consultation on implementation of the EU Securitization Regulation. The Securitization Regulation (also known as the STS Regulation) and a related amendment to the Capital Requirements Regulation came into effect on January 17, 2018. The majority of the provisions of the Securitization Regulation and the related amendment to the CRR will apply directly across the EU from January 1, 2019. While the Securitization Regulation is directly applicable, HM Treasury must make certain legislative amendments to align provisions of U.K. law with the Regulation. The FCA must also align its Handbook and launched a first consultation in August 2018 on its proposals for Handbook amendments.

In this further consultation, the FCA is consulting on proposed amendments to its Decision Procedure and Penalties manual (DEPP) and to its Enforcement Guide, to reflect the expected provisions of a Statutory Instrument which is expected to be laid before Parliament by HM Treasury in December 2018.

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The U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office has published guidance on the U.K. government's approach to implementing sanctions in the event that no deal is agreed between the EU and the U.K. on the U.K.'s exit from the EU. If there is no deal, the U.K. will leave the EU on March 29, 2019.

The U.K. currently implements sanctions agreed by the UN Security Council, according to international law requirements, and the EU, as provided for in EU legislation and U.K. implementing legislation. In the event of a "hard Brexit," the U.K. would continue to implement sanctions agreed by the UN Security Council and would have the power to adopt other sanctions under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. The FCO would publish the names of individuals and organizations subject to U.K. sanctions.

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The U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority has published a consultation proposing a six-month overlap period following the introduction of the new Pillar 2 Liquidity reporting template (PRA110) from July 1, 2019. The Capital Requirements Directive gives national regulators discretion to set additional Pillar 2 liquidity requirements, to capture those liquidity risks that are either not captured or not fully captured under the Pillar 1 framework. The final element - Pillar 3 - involves public reporting of capital. The PRA published its final Policy Statement on the introduction of its Pillar 2 framework in February 2018. The PRA110 template was scheduled to replace the existing "daily flows" and "enhanced mismatch" liquidity reports (FSA047 and FSA048) from July 1, 2019.

Since its Policy Statement, the PRA has reassessed the risks from transitioning to the PRA110 template and considers it prudent to delay the termination of FSA047 and FSA048, to ensure data quality and continuity. The PRA proposes that the PRA110 is introduced on July 1, 2019 as planned. However, between then and January 1, 2020, firms should additionally continue to submit liquidity reports using FSA047 and FSA048. The overlap will allow the PRA and firms alike to assess the quality of PRA110 reporting.

The PRA is inviting comments on the proposal by November 12, 2018. The PRA considers that the short consultation period is justified due to the fact that firms are already reporting using FSA047 and FSA048.

View the consultation paper (PRA CP22/18).

View details of the PRA's Pillar 2 Policy Statement.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has voted to reopen the comment period and request additional comments on proposals for capital, margin and segregation requirements for security-based swap dealers (SBSDs) and major security-based swap participants (MSBSPs) and capital requirements for broker-dealers. The Commission approved the measure by a 4-1 vote, with only Commissioner Robert Jackson Jr. dissenting.

The Commission initially published in 2012 a proposal on capital and margin requirements for non-bank SBSDs and MSBSPs, and segregation requirements for all SBSDs. The Commission published proposed provisions to establish the cross-border treatment of these rules in 2013 and an additional capital requirement for nonbank SBSDs in 2014. By reopening the comment period, the Commission stated that it is looking to provide market participants with an opportunity to provide comments that account for regulatory and market developments since the initial publication of the proposals, as well as the potential economic effects of the proposals in light of such developments. The Commission has previously indicated that it intends to finalize these rules prior to commencing registration of SBSDs and MSBSPs.

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The Financial Conduct Authority has published a consultation paper on proposed guidance on the Statement of Responsibilities (SoR) and Responsibilities Maps required under the Senior Managers and Certification regimes. The extended SM&CR will apply to all firms authorized under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and regulated by the FCA, as well as EEA and third-country (non-EEA) branches. SM&CR will be extended to FCA solo-regulated firms from December 9, 2019.

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HM Treasury has published a draft of the Markets in Financial Instruments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, along with explanatory information. The draft Regulations are primarily relevant for MiFID II-authorized firms including investment banks, stock and futures exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisers and investment managers.

The draft Regulations have been prepared in preparation for a "no-deal" scenario, in which the U.K. exits the EU on March 29, 2019 without a ratified Withdrawal Agreement. The no-deal scenario would mean that there would be no transitional period following Brexit and that the U.K. would be treated as a third-country after exit day. The changes set out in the draft Regulations will not take effect if the U.K. enters a transition period.

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The Financial Stability Board has published a report entitled "Crypto-asset markets: Potential Channels for future financial stability," in which it outlines its findings following its assessment of the crypto-asset markets in 2018.

The FSB has considered the primary risks present in crypto-assets markets as low liquidity, volatility, leverage risks, as well as technological and operational risks (including cyber security risks). The FSB considers that crypto-assets lack the key attributes of sovereign currencies and do not serve as a common means of payment, a stable store of value or a mainstream unit of account. Based on the available information, the FSB considers that crypto-assets do not pose a material risk to global financial stability at this time. However, the FSB's report highlights that there could be financial stability implications from these primary risks through a variety of transmission channels including: (i) confidence effects; (ii) financial institutions' exposures to crypto-assets, related financial products and entities that are financially impacted by crypto-assets; (iii) the level of market capitalisation of crypto-assets; and (iv) the extent of their use for payments and settlements.

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The Financial Conduct Authority has published three press releases announcing how entities can register with it as a credit rating agency, a trade repository or apply for temporary authorization as a data reporting services provider in preparation for the U.K. leaving the EU without a deal. The press releases follow the draft legislation and explanatory guidance recently published by HM Treasury and the FCA's first consultation on onshoring the EU technical standards through changes to its rulebook.

For credit rating agencies, the U.K. intends to establish a conversion regime (for U.K. CRAs and third-country CRAs currently registered or certified by the European Securities and Markets Authority) and a temporary registration regime (for newly established U.K. entities that are part of a group of CRAs with an existing ESMA registration before exit day). The FCA's CRA press release informs CRAs of how they can notify the FCA of their intention to use one of these regimes and provides an indicative timeline for the legislation and regime to be put into place.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published its first consultation on proposed changes to the FCA Handbook to ensure a functioning legal and regulatory framework for financial services in the event of a "no-deal" scenario whereby the U.K. exits the EU on March 29, 2019 without a ratified Withdrawal Agreement in place and there is consequently no transitional period for firms. The proposed amendments will not take effect if the U.K. enters into a transitional period after exit day.

The consultation includes the FCA's proposals in relation to the Binding Technical Standards it has been empowered by HM Treasury to amend prior to Brexit and to maintain afterward. These are the retained EU "Level 2" delegated and implementing regulations that set out regulatory technical standards and implementing technical standards. The consultation also sets out the FCA's proposed approach to non-legislative "Level 3" materials such as guidelines, recommendations and opinions that will also be onshored.

The FCA states in the consultation that the majority of the proposed changes are consequential in nature and follow the amendments to retained EU law that HM Treasury is proposing, as set out in the series of financial services-related statutory instruments being made under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has published a consultation on its proposed approach to a Temporary Permissions Regime for EEA firms and investment funds that currently provide services in the U.K. - either via a branch or cross-border - pursuant to a single market passport. The proposed TPR is designed to minimize the potential harm caused by an abrupt loss of the passport in a "no-deal" scenario, in which the U.K. exits the EU without a ratified Withdrawal Agreement, which would mean that there would be no transitional period following Brexit and that the U.K. would be treated as a third-country after exit day. The TPR will enable EEA firms and investment funds to continue to provide services in the U.K. for a limited period following exit day.

The proposed TPR will take effect on March 29, 2019 in the event of no deal. Should the U.K. and EU negotiations lead to ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, the TPR will not enter into force. Instead, during the transitional period, firms and investment funds would continue to have access to the same passporting arrangements as they do now.

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HM Treasury has published guidance stating that the laws establishing the three European Supervisory Authorities and the European Systemic Risk Board will be revoked in their entirety once the U.K. has left the EU. The ESAs are the European Securities and Markets Authority, the European Banking Authority and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority. These ESAs and the ESRB are part of the EU framework for supervision and regulation of the EU financial services sector. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 automatically incorporates such EU legislation into U.K. laws when the U.K. leaves the EU.

At the point of Brexit, the ESAs and the ESRB will no longer perform functions in relation to the U.K. and the EU legislation that established them will be inoperable in U.K. laws. HM Treasury intends to use a statutory instrument to revoke those laws in their entirety so that they do not become applicable on Brexit. Where other EU legislation automatically incorporated into U.K. law refers to the ESAs or ESRB, statutory instruments will either amend the law or revoke it, as appropriate.

View the guidance.

The Financial Policy Committee has published a statement from its meeting held on October 3, 2018 where it reviewed developments since June 19, 2018. The FPC continues to consider that the U.K. banking system is sufficiently robust to withstand the disruption of a "hard Brexit" and that there is no need for additional capital buffers for banks as a result. The FPC is of the view that the banking system would be able to absorb, in addition to a disorderly Brexit, further costs that might arise from trade tensions. However, the FPC is concerned about the lack of action taken by EU authorities to address the risks of disruption in the event of the U.K. leaving the EU without a deal on March 29, 2019. In particular, the FPC would like mitigating action to be taken to address the risks associated with derivatives contracts and the transfer of personal data.

Aside from the risks presented by Brexit, the FPC considers that domestic risks are still at a standard level overall. However, the FPC is concerned about the swift growth of leveraged lending and intends to: (i) assess the implications for banks in the 2018 stress test; and (ii) review the impact of the increasing role of non-bank lenders and changes in the distribution of corporate debt. The FPC has decided to maintain the U.K. countercyclical capital buffer rate at 1% and will review the rate again at its meeting on November 28, 2018.

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The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (that is, the European Banking Authority, the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority) has published its 2019 Work Programme. EIOPA will Chair the Joint Committee in 2019. The Work Programme provides details of the Joint Committee's key workstreams for 2019.

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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority has launched a consultation on illiquid assets and open-ended funds, following responses from stakeholders to a discussion paper it issued early in 2017. After observing the impact of certain temporary fund suspensions following the U.K.'s 2016 referendum on exiting the EU, the FCA considers that open ended funds investing in illiquid assets have a potential structural liquidity mismatch which, under stress, can create a "first mover" advantage that may lead to runs on funds and sales of fund assets at reduced prices.

The FCA is consulting on a number of proposals to alleviate the risk of poor outcomes to retail investors in open ended funds, specifically non-UCITS retail schemes (NURSs), that invest in illiquid assets. The consultation includes a proposed approach to defining "inherently illiquid assets," examples of which include property or infrastructure investments.

In addition to the responses received to its discussion paper, the FCA's consultation proposals are also informed by its supervisory work and by the revised version of the Recommendations on Liquidity Risk Management for Collective Investment Schemes published in February 2018 by the International Organization of Securities Commissions.

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HM Treasury has published an Approach Paper setting out its proposal for a temporary transitional power to be given to the U.K. financial regulators to assist firms to adapt to the post-Brexit regulatory framework in an orderly manner in the event of a "no deal" scenario.

It is proposed that the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority are granted a temporary power to award transitional relief from regulatory requirements where the requirements have been introduced or have changed as a result of onshoring financial services legislation. The power would relate to regulatory requirements in the PRA and FCA rules, onshored EU technical standards, onshored EU financial services regulations or delegated regulations and relevant U.K. primary or secondary legislation. The regulators would be able to grant transitional relief by issuing a "direction" setting out the terms of the relief, including whether the relief would apply to particular firms, classes of firms or to all firms. The power would not be available where a specific transitional arrangement has already been put in place for firms through regulations made under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act because HM Treasury believes that additional relief would not be necessary.

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HM Treasury has published draft Bank Recovery and Resolution and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 to onshore the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive in preparation for the U.K.'s exit from the EU. An explanatory guide to the draft Regulations has also been published. The draft Regulations will make changes to the existing U.K. legislation which transposed the BRRD into U.K. law, which is mainly the Banking Act 2009 and the Bank Recovery and Resolution (No 2) Order 2014, and to certain Delegated Regulations adopted by the European Commission under the BRRD. The aim of the draft Regulations is to ensure that the U.K. Special Resolution Regime is "legally and practically workable on a standalone basis" when the U.K. leaves the EU.

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HM Treasury has published a draft of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, along with explanatory information. The draft Regulations will onshore the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive for Brexit.

The draft Regulations are primarily relevant for Alternative Investment Fund Managers that are already regulated in the U.K. under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 and AIFMs currently marketing EEA AIFs in the U.K. They are also relevant for fund managers that market EEA Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) into the U.K. HM Treasury has published separately the draft U.K. legislation to onshore EU legislation for UCITS funds for Brexit.

The draft Regulations have been prepared in preparation for a "no-deal" scenario, in which the U.K. exits the EU on March 29, 2019 without a ratified Withdrawal Agreement. The no-deal scenario addressed in the draft Regulations involves no transitional period following Brexit and the U.K. being treated as a third-country under EU law after exit day. The changes set out in the draft Regulations will not take effect on exit day if the U.K. enters a transition period.

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HM Treasury has published a draft of the Collective Investment Schemes (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, along with explanatory information. The draft Regulations will onshore the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Directive for Brexit.

The draft Regulations are primarily relevant for EEA fund managers operating UCITS authorized in the U.K., fund managers marketing EEA UCITS into the U.K. and depositaries that provide services to U.K. authorized funds. HM Treasury has also published separately the draft U.K. legislation to onshore EU legislation for Alternative Investment Funds for Brexit.

The draft Regulations have been prepared in preparation for a "no-deal" scenario, in which the U.K. exits the EU on March 29, 2019 without a ratified Withdrawal Agreement. The no-deal scenario would mean that there would be no transitional period following Brexit and that the U.K. would be treated as a third-country after exit day. The changes set out in the draft Regulations will not take effect on exit day if the U.K. enters a transition period.

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HM Treasury has published explanatory guidance on a proposed U.K. regulation to onshore EU legislation on credit rating agencies in the event of a "no deal" scenario resulting from the EU-U.K. Brexit negotiations. If no deal is reached, the U.K. exits the EU on March 29, 2019. The draft statutory instrument is still being prepared and the approach as set out in the guidance may change as a result. It is expected that the draft SI will be published and also laid before Parliament before the end of the year.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has published an Opinion (dated September 24, 2018) on position limits for U.K. Natural Gas Contracts, for the purposes of the position limit regime established by the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. MiFID II and its secondary legislation establish the position limits regime for commodity derivatives. For illiquid contracts, the position limits are set in the legislation. However, where contracts are liquid, position limits are set by the relevant national regulator and notified to ESMA. Secondary legislation under MiFID II sets out Regulatory Technical Standards for the methodology national regulators should use and the factors they should consider when setting position limits.

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority notified ESMA in February 2018 of the position limits the FCA intends to set for U.K. Natural Gas commodity futures and options contracts. In its Opinion, ESMA confirms that the spot month position limit and the other months' position limit are consistent with the objectives of MiFID II and compliant with the methodology established by the relevant RTS.

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The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has published its Annual Review for the period from April 2017 to March 2018. OFSI was established in March 2016 with the objective of raising awareness of financial sanctions, assessing and addressing suspected sanctions breaches and providing a professional service to the public and industry. The Annual Review provides an overview of:

• U.N. and EU financial sanction regimes implemented by OFSI;
• OFSI's work on asset freezing and a breakdown of funds frozen;
• action taken by OFSI following reports of suspected breaches of financial sanctions;
• licenses issued by OFSI during the period; and
• awareness-raising activities.

The Annual Review also outlines OFSI's forward plans in the above areas. This includes: (i) a plan to improve searchability of OFSI's Consolidated List of financial sanctions targets; (ii) potentially imposing monetary penalties in 2018-19; (iii) further activities to raise awareness, including the publication of more targeted guidance on financial sanctions compliance and on changes to the legal framework for sanctions; and (iv) Brexit preparations.

View the Annual Report.

The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation published a notice and request for comment seeking input on how to improve the efficacy, efficiency and transparency of the agency’s communication with insured depository institutions.  The notice outlines current forms of communication, including, regulations, policies, procedures and guidance; news and updates; industry data, educational materials and outreach; general communication; and direct communication.  The notice requests comment with respect to the efficiency, ease of access and content of communications with insured financial institutions.  Comments to the FDIC’s notice are due no later than December 4, 2018.

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HM Treasury has published a draft of the Trade Repositories (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, along with explanatory information. The draft Regulations are primarily relevant for Trade Repositories in both the U.K. and the EU that are currently registered with and supervised by the European Securities and Markets Authority and that are planning to continue servicing the U.K. market after the U.K.'s exit from the EU on March 29, 2019.

The draft Regulations have been prepared to ensure that the U.K.'s legal framework for reporting of derivatives trades to TRs will continue to operate effectively after exit day. The draft Regulations amend the version of the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation that will be retained on Brexit. The draft Regulations transfer to the Financial Conduct Authority the functions carried out by ESMA for the registration of TRs. They also establish: (i) a temporary registration regime that will enable U.K. and EU TRs that wish to establish a new U.K. legal entity to benefit - on complying with certain requirements - from temporary registration while the FCA considers their application; and (ii) a conversion regime that will allow U.K. TRs that are currently registered with ESMA to be registered as authorized U.K. TRs by the FCA from exit day.

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The Global Foreign Exchange Committee has published an update on the ongoing work of its four priority working groups: (i) the cover and deal working group; (ii) the disclosures working group; (iii) the buy-side outreach working group; and (iv) the working group on embedding the FX Global Code. The GFXC was established in 2017 as a forum for participants in the wholesale foreign exchange markets and its terms of reference include addressing misconduct in FX markets by facilitating adoption of the global principles of good practice enshrined in the FX Global Code.

The update refers to the recent launch (on September 28, 2018) of a survey by the working group on embedding the FX Global Code. Completed surveys are requested by October 19, 2018. The aims of the survey are to measure awareness and adoption of the FX Global Code among market participants and to inform the GFXC's further work on embedding and integrating the code into the global FX markets. The survey results will be considered at the GFXC's next meeting, which will be held in November.

View the survey.

View the press release.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission have signed an arrangement designed to support cross-border FinTech innovation through their respective FinTech initiatives, LabCFTC and the ASIC Innovation Hub. The arrangement will facilitate information sharing between the two regulators in respect of emerging trends and developments, regulatory issues pertaining to FinTech innovations and best practices, among other things. It also includes a referral mechanism that will allow the CFTC and ASIC to refer to one another innovators that wish to operate or have questions about operating in the other's jurisdiction. The arrangement further calls for joint proofs of concept, trials and innovation competitions, where permitted, as well as periodic meetings to update each other on FinTech and RegTech trends and developments of common interest.

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The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a decision (dated September 26, 2018) of its Board of Supervisors to withdraw its existing Guidelines for trading platforms, investment firms and national regulators on systems and controls in an automated trading environment.

The Guidelines were published by ESMA in 2011 to provide important clarifications to ensure a common, uniform and consistent application of the original Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and its secondary legislation (MiFID I). The content of the Guidelines has now been incorporated within, and consequently superseded by, detailed provisions in the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and its secondary legislation (MiFID II) and the Market Abuse Regulation.

The Guidelines have been withdrawn effective from September 26, 2018.

View the ESMA decision.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published a report on the outcome of its thematic review into money laundering and terrorist financing risks in the e-money sector. The report focuses on e-money products, including prepaid cards and digital wallets. The FCA assessed the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls of 13 authorized Electronic Money Institutions and registered small Electronic Money Institutions. The review included consideration of business models that involve distributing e-money through agents and distributors.

The FCA's review did not cover activities that are not regulated by the FCA (for instance, gift cards that can be used only within a limited network or prepaid products denominated in a cryptocurrency) or money remittance services provided by the EMIs.

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The U.S. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published a notice and request for comment with respect to potential measures that could be taken to improve the efficiency and speed of payment services, specifically regarding the facilitation of real-time interbank settlement of “faster payments”—a term generally used to convey a future payment and settlement system that is fast, convenient and accessible.  The notice highlights that while traditional payment methods, such as checks, ACH payments, and credit card transactions have created a payment systems infrastructure that is universal, safe and reliable, this does not necessarily translate into speed and efficiency.  The notice suggests that the current system has resulted in a gap between the speed and efficiency of the payment systems infrastructure and user expectations.  The notice provides background regarding Federal Reserve Board initiatives associated with faster payments, including its Strategies for Improving the U.S. Payment System initiative and Faster Payments Task Force, provides an overview of the faster payments construct, and introduces potential faster payment models, including deferred net settlement of interbank obligations and real-time gross settlement of interbank obligations.  The notice also discusses potential actions that the Federal Reserve Board could undertake to support faster payments, including the development of “24x7x365” real-time interbank settlement and the creation of a liquidly management tool to help promote, support and drive participation in real-time interbank settlement.

View full text of the request for comments.

The U.S. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and National Credit Union Administration released an interagency statement regarding the sharing of Bank Secrecy Act resources among banks through collaborative arrangements intended to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and benefit from specialized expertise by pooling resources among banks.

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