Elf on the Shelf is a simple concept that has proved to be immensely popular. It is based on a book of the same name which sets the scene for the concept. The story describes how Santa's "scout elves" hide in people's homes to watch over events. Once everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place throughout the day. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides, and typically is portrayed to be quite mischievous!
Elf on The Shelf – What Would The Regulatory Elf Be Up To?!
[fa icon="calendar'] 18-Dec-2020 15:00:43 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation
Brexit Pragmatism paves the way to proportionate Banking Regulation
[fa icon="calendar'] 30-Nov-2020 13:57:23 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Brexit, Treasury Management, Treasury, FCA, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, ESMA, ECB, EU
Markets appear, according to commentators, to be pricing in a last-minute deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom. This would certainly fit various other scenarios we have seen with last-minute eleventh-hour deals involving the EU.
The Haunting of an OTF; the Devil will be in the detail.
[fa icon="calendar'] 30-Oct-2020 07:28:00 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, MiFID, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, MiFID II, FCA, regulatory reporter, MiFIR, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, ESMA, OTF
Following on from the MAR report in my last blog comes one on a consultation from ESMA concerning the Organised Trading Facility (OTF) Regime. The accompanying paper provides an overview of the functioning of the OTF regime. It discusses the definition of OTF’s, the use of discretion in the execution of orders and the practice concerning the use of matched principal trading.
A Ghost of Christmas Past Makes an Early Appearance – ESMA and MAR Haunt the Spot FX Market
[fa icon="calendar'] 14-Oct-2020 11:02:34 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FCA, FX payments, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, PRA, UK, cross-border payments, cross-border
As we approach Halloween market abuse has come back to haunt the FX market. Our Advent Blog last year covered the ESMA Consultation Paper on the provisions of the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and highlighted the fact that spot FX is not covered by MAR.
Climbing the Mountain and Levelling the Playing Field – a dichotomy solved?
[fa icon="calendar'] 25-Sep-2020 08:00:00 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FCA, FX payments, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, PRA, UK, cross-border payments, cross-border
For some time in the UK the regulators and authorities have tried to introduce true competition to the traditional banks. Much debate has occurred as to the rights and wrongs of allowing a new grouping of Challengers, Neos and FinTech enter the banking market with a lighter regulatory touch to the incumbents.
Do you know your SOFR from your SARON? The new benchmarks
[fa icon="calendar'] 15-Sep-2020 15:38:29 / by Matt Townsend posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FX payments, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, UK, cross-border payments, cross-border
Given the longstanding focus on the familiar, well-used trading benchmarks and indices currently in use but due to be retired or changed, it’s quite normal to feel that you don't know your SARON from your €STR!
The new Lego - building blocks of the new cross-border payment roadmap
[fa icon="calendar'] 20-Aug-2020 15:37:38 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, Payments, FCA, FX payments, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, UK, cross-border payments, cross-border
I have been catching up on some light reading in the glorious English sunshine. One report in particular caught my eye; the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures released a paper in July
Uncleared Margin Rules – more regulatory requirements are on the horizon!
[fa icon="calendar'] 27-Jul-2020 08:18:54 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FCA, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, fx swaps, UK, EMIR
The regulation for Uncleared Margin Rules (UMR) was set in motion at the 2009 G20 meeting following the global financial crisis.
Back aboard LIBOR Reform – full steam ahead in the UK.
[fa icon="calendar'] 20-Jul-2020 11:16:02 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FCA, regulatory reporter, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, UK
A triumvirate of the Working Group on Risk-Free Reference Rates (RFRWG), the FCA and the Bank of England published joint statements in March and April (see my previous blog LIBOR Wars) reiterating that firms must move away from referencing LIBOR and reduce the stock of legacy LIBOR contracts.
Drifting back to a bright new future?
[fa icon="calendar'] 19-Jun-2020 10:20:07 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, sales, regulatory reporter, Sales Desk, SFTR, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading, COVID19, RegTech
The effect of the pandemic has been a mixed bag for many involved in our markets. The increase in volatility has seen a boost to trading activities and RegTech has been busy innovating to help overcome the compliance issues of remote working. With banks splitting personnel between the office, disaster recovery sites and working from home, issues have arisen that will spur technological development and system renewals.
Bringing Harmony to Treasury, Sales and Regulatory Compliance.
[fa icon="calendar'] 08-Jun-2020 07:30:00 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, MiFID, Regulation, Treasury Management, Treasury, FX, sales, regulatory reporter, Sales Desk, Treasury Trading Solutions, Banking Regulation, treasury trading
Regulations are having a profound effect on the trading landscape alongside a proliferation of Codes of Conduct. In the UK, there are three codes replacing the former NIPS code covering FX, Money Markets and Precious Metals.
Regulatory Reporting and FX Swaps. Or is it FX Strats? Or even FX Packages?!
[fa icon="calendar'] 02-Jun-2020 08:18:11 / by David Woolcock posted in Banking, MiFID, Regulation, FX, FX payments, regulatory reporter, MiFIR, Banking Regulation, ESMA, fx swaps
We have been seeing a lot of discussion and interest concerning a blog I penned in March last year under the title of “Beware the Ides of March - A Drama of FX Swaps Reporting”.
This March, we had a Consultation from ESMA, nattily entitled, “MiFID II/MiFIR review report on the transparency regime for non-equity instruments and the trading obligation for derivatives”, which may equally be causing this issue to be re-visited.