News Centre

ASIC Highlights Focus Areas For 31 December 2020 Financial Reports Under COVID-19 Conditions

Date 15/12/2020

ASIC has highlighted key focus areas for financial reporting by companies for years ending 31 December 2020.

As the impact of COVID-19 continues, the areas identified remain  similar to those at 30 June 2020 and are complemented by guidance provided in frequently asked questions on the ASIC website.

Upholding Top-Level Two-Way Opening Up And Promoting Cooperation And Mutual Benefits - Shenzhen Stock Exchange Carries Out Cross-Border Promotion Activities For “SZSE Multiple Assets Investment Opportunities

Date 15/12/2020

On December 11, Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) held cross-border promotion activities for “SZSE multiple assets investment opportunities”. To comply with requirements of pandemic prevention and control, the activity was held in the way of combining the roadshow and online interaction, in which representatives of listed companies and more than 50 domestic and overseas institutions were invited to discuss about international cooperation opportunities, reach consensus on cooperation and advance mutual benefits and development.

Statement Of Dissent From The Commission’s Order Approving The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Proposed Rule Change, As Modified By Amendment No. 1, To Address Brokers With A Significant History Of Misconduct, SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, Dec. 14, 2020

Date 14/12/2020

Last week, the Commission approved a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rule filing that is designed to address risks to investors presented by member firms and brokers that have a history of misconduct. FINRA notes research suggesting that some firms have a practice of hiring brokers who have a history of misconduct and that these brokers show a tendency to engage in higher levels of misconduct. FINRA also cites studies that suggest that a history of misconduct or other regulatory events may predict that a firm or broker is likely to engage in similar conduct in the future. The rule filing that the Commission approved contains several provisions that will provide FINRA with additional tools to mitigate these risks.

CFTC: Federal Court Orders Interdealer Broker To Pay $7 Million For Deceptive Trading Practices In The FX Options Markets - Former CEO And Desk Head Ordered To Pay $500,000 Each For Supervision Failures

Date 14/12/2020

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a consent order against defendants TFS-ICAP LLC and TFS-ICAP Ltd., interdealer brokers located in New York and London, requiring them to pay a $7 million civil monetary penalty for representing to clients bids and offers that had not been made, and for communicating to clients trades that had not occurred. In the order, TFS-ICAP admits that its employees engaged in the misconduct, known as “flying” prices and “printing” trades, that violated the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), as charged. 

Desjardins Group Personal Data Leak - Autorité Des Marchés Financiers Orders The Federation To Comply With Its Sound And Prudent Management Obligation

Date 14/12/2020

The Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) has ordered the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec (the “Federation”) to put in place a series of corrective measures and robust internal controls to effectively mitigate the risk of operational incidents, including those related to privacy, and to comply with its legal obligation to apply sound and prudent management practices.

SEC Awards More Than $300,000 To Whistleblower With Audit Responsibilities

Date 14/12/2020

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of more than $300,000 to a whistleblower whose high-quality information and continuing assistance significantly contributed to a successful enforcement action.

MIAX Options Exchange - SPIKES Special Settlement Auction Settlement Reference Price Opening Width And Valid And Priority Quote Width Tables Used In The December 16, 2020 SPIKES Special Settlement Auction

Date 14/12/2020

Due to sustained market volatility, MIAX Options will continue to use the Settlement Reference Price Opening Width and Valid and Priority Quote Width tables detailed in MIAX Options Regulatory Circular 2020-11 for opening the SPY January 15, 2021 options used in the December 16, 2020 SPIKES Special Settlement Auction.

CFTC Participates In Operation Income Illusion To Raise Retail Fraud Awareness

Date 14/12/2020

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced its participation in “Operation Income Illusion.” Spearheaded by the Federal Trade Commission, Operation Income Illusion is a joint effort announcing law enforcement cases and customer education information as part of a nationwide crackdown on scams targeting customers with fake promises of income.

NICE Actimize’s X-Sight Marketplace Offers Facial Recognition Technology For Advanced AML/KYC Risk Screening With Addition Of FACEPOINT - Powerful Biometrics And “Picture Intelligence” Capabilities Offer Enhancements Over Traditional Alphanumeric Screening For Greater Precision And Accuracy

Date 14/12/2020

NICE Actimize, a NICE business (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that FACEPOINT, which launched an industry-leading biometric risk screening engine, has joined the X-Sight Marketplace, bringing its cutting-edge facial recognition technology for advanced KYC and watch list risk screening to the ecosystem. NICE Actimize’s X-Sight Marketplace, which has grown to include more than 60 technology partners, is the first financial crime and compliance ecosystem that connects financial services organizations with data, applications, tools and service providers, providing both the value of choice and the ability to reduce integration timelines. 

Worldline Announces A Major Strategic Commercial Acquiring Alliance With ANZ Bank In Australia

Date 14/12/2020

• Acquisition of a controlling stake (51%) in the commercial acquiring business of ANZ for a cash consideration of c. AUD 485 million
• Creation of a 51%-49% joint-venture controlled by Worldline to operate and develop commercial acquiring services in Australia with ANZ Bank
• Strategic opportunity to expand Merchant Services outside of Europe with a unique access to one of the largest payments markets
• Strong value creation through synergies derived from Worldline’s payment technology stack roll-out, enhanced scale and growth acceleration
• First success of the newly created Merchant Services-Financial Institutions division, leveraging the compelling strengths of the Worldline-Ingenico combination