News Centre

SEC Charges Volkswagen, Former CEO With Defrauding Bond Investors During "Clean Diesel" Emissions Fraud

Date 15/03/2019

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Volkswagen AG, two of its subsidiaries, and its former CEO, Martin Winterkorn, for defrauding U.S. investors, raising billions of dollars through the corporate bond and fixed income markets while making a series of deceptive claims about the environmental impact of the company's "clean diesel" fleet.

CFTC To Hold An Open Commission Meeting On March 25

Date 15/03/2019

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo announced today that the CFTC will hold an open meeting on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. to consider the following:

• Amendment to the Comparability Determination for Japan:  Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants;
• Comparability Determination for Australia:  Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants;
• Final Rule Amending Regulations on Segregation of Assets Held as Collateral in Uncleared Swap Transactions;
• Final Rule Regarding the De Minimis Exception to the Swap Dealer Definition – Swaps Entered into by Insured Depository Institutions in Connection with Loans to Customers
• Final Rule Regarding Financial Surveillance Examination Program Requirements for Self-Regulatory Organizations
• Brexit-Related Updates to Memoranda of Understanding and Related Side Letters with the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority; and
• Interim Final Rule Regarding Margin Requirements for Uncleared Swaps for Swap Dealers and Major Swap Participants in Light of Brexit

Canadian Securities Regulators Seek Comment On Proposed Designated Benchmarks Rule

Date 14/03/2019

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today published for comment a proposed rule, National Instrument 25-102 Designated Benchmarks and Benchmark Administrators (Proposed NI 25-102), intended to implement a comprehensive regime for the designation and regulation of benchmarks and those that administer them.

US Department Of Justice: Two Indiana Men Sentenced To Prison In Connection With Insider Trading Scheme

Date 14/03/2019

Two brothers were sentenced today for their participation in a 2014 fraudulent scheme to trade in options ahead of SAP SE’s (SAP) acquisition of Concur Technologies (Concur), which netted them and their co-conspirators hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits.  

NZX - Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Strike Price

Date 14/03/2019

NZX advises that the strike price for the dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) operating in respect of the dividend payable on Friday 22 March 2019 has been set at $0.9714 per share.

Canadian Securities Regulators Consult On Regulatory Framework For Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms

Date 14/03/2019

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) today published Joint Canadian Securities Administrators/Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada Consultation Paper 21-402 (pdf - 258 KB)This link will open in a new window Proposed Framework for Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms. The consultation paper seeks input from the fintech community, market participants, investors and other stakeholders on how regulatory requirements may be tailored for crypto-asset trading platforms (platforms) operating in Canada.

MIAX Options - SPIKES Strategy Order Cut-Off Time

Date 14/03/2019

MIAX Options will conduct a SPIKES Special Settlement Auction on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, to determine the final settlement price of expiring SPIKES Index option contracts.

Federal Reserve Announces Seventh Triennial Study To Examine U.S. Payments Usage

Date 14/03/2019

Beginning this month, financial institutions and payments organizations will receive invitations to participate in the seventh triennial Federal Reserve Payments Study, the Federal Reserve announced today. Based on survey data provided by participants, past reports from the studies have documented substantial change in the aggregate volume and composition of noncash payments in the United States since 2000. Recent reports have also revealed dynamic changes in aggregate payments fraud, automated teller machine withdrawals, and payment authentication methods, among other topics.

U.S. Consolidated Audit Trail Clock Synchronization Notice

Date 14/03/2019

As previously communicated, Industry Members must complete an annual certification for Business Clock Synchronization by March 15th of each year. A reminder notification can also be found on the CAT NMS Plan website via this link. The national securities exchanges and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) previously issued a Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) notice regarding clock synchronization, including information on the Business Clock synchronization requirement, synchronization procedures, violation reporting, and annual certifications which is available via this link. A clock synchronization certification form is available via this link.

SIFMA Submits Written Statement On The SEC’s Regulation Best Interest To House Financial Services Subcommittee On Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship And Capital Markets

Date 14/03/2019

SIFMA submitted a written statement today to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets in conjunction with a hearing entitled ‘Putting Investors First? Examining the SEC’s Best Interest Rule.’