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Modernizing The Regulatory Framework For Funds’ Use Of Derivatives, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, Oct. 28, 2020

Date 28/10/2020

Good morning. This is an open meeting of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, under the Government in the Sunshine Act.

Today, we are considering a new rule to provide an updated and comprehensive regulatory framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment funds, including mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). I have spoken before on the importance of modernization—ensuring that the implementation of our time-tested, long term investor-oriented regulatory structure keeps pace with today’s marketplace—to the Commission’s mission and our markets more generally.[1]  I have no doubt that this commitment to modernization, which flows through the 4,500-strong SEC staff, greatly enhanced our ability and the ability of market participants more generally to both absorb and respond to the market and operational stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CUSIP Global Services Links Environmental, Social And Governance (ESG) Data With Municipal Bond Identifiers In Two New Mapping Files - Partnership Pairs CUSIP Identifier With ACRe Data's Municipal ESG Scores To Provide Quick Reference Snapshot Of Values-Based Data For Investors

Date 28/10/2020

CUSIP Global Services (CGS) today announced a partnership with ACRe Data Inc. (ACRe) to provide two new mapping files that link municipal CUSIP identifiers with ACRe's environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores and other geographic and socioeconomic data relevant to each municipal bond issuer. By pairing the CUSIP ID with ACRe's localized ESG scoring data, the new data files will give institutional and retail investors a clearer perspective on ESG risk assessments of their municipal bond portfolios.

First Six Artificial Intelligence And Blockchain Technology Funds Backed By InnovFin Raise A Total Of EUR 700m

Date 28/10/2020

• The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Commission are announcing the first 6 Venture Capital funds under the InnovFin Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain pilot
• New agreements with tech equity funds in Austria, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are expected to bring EUR 700m to tech companies across Europe

Joint Statement Regarding Complex Financial Products And Retail Investors, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, Dalia Blass, Director, Division of Investment Management, William Hinman, Director, Division of Corporation Finance, Brett Redfearn, Director, Division of Trading and Markets

Date 28/10/2020

Retail investors have a wide array of investment options available to them, including an increasing number and type of investment products that are more complex than conventional stock and bond investments. These complex products may be exchange-traded or sold directly to investors. Among these products are “leveraged/inverse” products, which seek to provide leveraged or inverse exposure to an underlying index by a specified multiple (e.g., 2x), generally on a daily basis, as well as products that provide investment exposure to less conventional assets, including commodity prices.  We believe that these leveraged/inverse products and other complex products may present investor protection issues—particularly for retail investors who may not fully appreciate the particular characteristics or risks of such investments, including the risks that holding such products may pose to their investment goals.

Moscow Exchange: Risk Parameters Change For The Security SU29019RMFS5

Date 28/10/2020

As per the Securities market risk parameters methodology, on 28.10.2020, 15-45 (MSK) the lower bound of the price band (up to 93.917) and initial margins (up to 10 %) for the security SU29019RMFS5 were changed. New values are available here

ACER: Whilst Gas Wholesale Markets For The Most Part Function Efficiently, Challenges Remain For Both Electricity And Retail Energy Markets Across Europe

Date 28/10/2020

Progress has been identified regarding the integration of the gas and electricity wholesale markets in the EU with an estimated 75% of the gas consumed benefitting from well-integrated markets. However, significant challenges remain in delivering a well-integrated electricity market with delays in the delivery of market coupling and insufficient utilisation of interconnectors hampering progress.  At the retail level, markets continue to show divergences between Member States regarding the price paid for energy and the level of consumer engagement. In some markets, supplier switching rates and therefore access to better prices exceed 20% while in others switching rates are much lower.

Algorand-Powered Microequities Exchange MESE.io Launches Hybrid Exchange Token MESX - First-Of-Its-Kind Hybrid Token Model Combines Both Exchange Token And DeFi Token Economics Creating An Index ETF That Tracks The Performance Of Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Twitter, Amazon, Netflix, And Google (MATTANG)

Date 28/10/2020

MESE.io (https://www.mese.io/), the Algorand-powered tokenized microequities exchange, announced today the launch of MESX, an index ETF token that acts as a centralized exchange token and exhibits DeFi token mechanics. MESX is backed by Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, Twitter, Amazon, Netflix, and Google (MATTANG) stocks held in its index fund. 

ICE ETF Hub Expands Custom Basket Pilot Program

Date 28/10/2020

• Four new market makers join the program
• New technology enhancements bring additional automation to ETF Primary Market

Mercury Digital Assets Launches Connectivity To Deribit For Crypto Derivatives Trading - Partnership Allows Traders To Use Mercury’s BEACON Platform And API To Trade Bitcoin And Ethereum Options, Futures, And Perpetual Swaps On Deribit’s Crypto Derivatives Exchange

Date 28/10/2020

Mercury Digital Assets (“Mercury”), a technology provider for digital asset markets, today announced the launch of connectivity to Deribit, a leading cryptocurrency derivatives exchange. Mercury is integrating with the exchange to allow professional and institutional traders using the BEACON platform and API to trade bitcoin and ethereum options, futures, and perpetual swaps on Deribit’s exchange.

AFME Report Tracks European Capital Markets Performance In 2020

Date 28/10/2020

• Unprecedented levels of capital markets funding supported businesses in the first semester of 2020
• Bond issuance has increased, with growth of social bonds consolidating Europe’s ESG leadership
• However, an undersized equities market means SMEs continue to rely on bank loans, restricting their opportunities to grow
• Securitisation volumes continued to fall, limiting bank’s capacity to expand their lending
• Capital markets union needed more than ever to support long term recovery