News Centre

US Department Of Justice: Bank Hapoalim Agrees To Pay More Than $30 Million For Its Role In FIFA Money Laundering Conspiracy - Bank Hapoalim B.M. And Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd. Enter Into Three-Year Non-Prosecution Agreement

Date 30/04/2020

Bank Hapoalim B.M. (BHBM), an Israeli bank with international operations, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hapoalim (Switzerland) Ltd. (BHS), have agreed to forfeit $20,733,322 and pay a fine of $9,329,995 to resolve an investigation into their involvement in a money laundering conspiracy that fueled an international soccer bribery scheme. 

Nodal Exchange Successfully Migrates Additional Natural Gas Open Interest From Nasdaq Futures, Inc.

Date 30/04/2020

Nodal Exchange announced today that it successfully migrated a second tranche of natural gas futures and options contracts open interest from Nasdaq Futures, Inc. (NFX) to Nodal Clear, Nodal Exchange’s clearing house, pursuant to the agreement announced in November 2019 whereby Nodal purchased core assets of NFX’s futures and options exchange business. 578,377,500 million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) were migrated yesterday morning to Nodal Exchange, following the prior migration of  818,737,500 million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) on April 13.  This is the energy equivalent of a total 409 million MWh migrated in April and represented about 160,000 total natural gas lots in April.  Nodal Exchange also previously migrated 91 million MWh of power futures and options on February 6, 2020 which represented all of the NFX North American power open interest (except for current month expiries by design).

FINRA Securities Helpline For Seniors Marks Five-Year Anniversary - FINRA Releases Report Highlighting Helpline’s Efforts And Other FINRA Initiatives To Protect Seniors

Date 30/04/2020

FINRA today released a new report illustrating the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors’ efforts to provide support, resources and education to senior investors over the last five years. The report also provides insight into FINRA’s ongoing work to protect senior investors beyond the Helpline – including rulemaking, disciplinary actions, and collaboration with other regulators and organizations – and shares effective practices from member firm senior investor protection programs.

Ontario Securities Commission Seeks Comment On Its Key Priorities

Date 30/04/2020

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) today published Notice 11-788 seeking public comment on its current Statement of Priorities (SOP) to inform its business planning for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Given the outbreak of COVID-19 and related financial market uncertainty, the OSC has decided not to consult on a more detailed SOP at this time.  

IMF Executive Board Approves A US$200 Million Disbursement To Mali To Address The COVID-19 Pandemic

Date 30/04/2020

• The IMF approved a disbursement of US$200 million under the Rapid Credit Facility to help Mali meet urgent balance-of-payments and fiscal needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This assistance will help support urgent spending on health services and assistance to affected firms and households, while preserving overall social spending.
• The authorities responded quickly with measures to contain the spread of the virus and to mitigate its social and economic impact.

Nigerian Stock Exchange Weekly Market Report For April 30th 2020

Date 30/04/2020

The market opened for four trading days this week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Friday 1st May 2020 a Public Holiday to commemorate the 2020 Workers Day Celebration.

Call For Expression Of Interest For Pre-Qualification Of The African Exchanges Linkage Project Link Technology Platform

Date 30/04/2020

The African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) is a joint initiative of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). 

ESMA Publishes Annual Bond Transparency Calculations, Systematic Internalisers Calculations And New Bond Liquidity Data

Date 30/04/2020

The European Securities and Markets Authority, the EU’s securities markets regulator, has today made available, 

• the annual transparency calculations of the large in scale (LIS) and size specific to the instruments (SSTI) thresholds for bonds;
• systematic internaliser calculations for equity, equity-like instruments and bonds; and
• new data for bonds subject to the pre- and post-trade requirements of MiFID II and MiFIR.

ECB Announces New Pandemic Emergency Longer-Term Refinancing Operations

Date 30/04/2020

• Series of additional longer-term refinancing operations to ensure sufficient liquidity and smooth money market conditions during the pandemic period
• Operations allotted on a near monthly basis maturing in the third quarter of 2021

Basel Committee Publishes Stocktake Report On Climate-Related Financial Risk Initiatives

Date 30/04/2020

• First report by high-level Task Force on Climate-related Financial Risks.
• Most BCBS members are undertaking regulatory and supervisory initiatives on climate-related financial risks.
• Future work includes analytical reports and developing effective supervisory practices.