The plight or health of community banks has become a key weapon in the war between supporters and critics of Dodd-Frank and even financial regulation in general. The unmistakable decline in the number of community banks is used by many as an example of why the 12,000+ page legislation is flawed, as it supposedly hurts


The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its third consultation paper (CP3) with regards to the implementation of the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) on 29 September 2016. MiFID II, which comes into effect on 3 January 2018, is aimed at making markets more efficient, transparent and responsible.  Strengthening consumer protection is one


Key regulatory themes for 2016

So far 2016 has been one of the most contentious years since the G20 agreed the regulatory reform agenda seven years ago. With ever-rising costs, increasingly more severe penalties, and continued issues with data quality, it would be easy to claim the plans conceived in the wake of the crisis are not going to get


The phase-in for central counterparty clearing (CCP) for certain Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivative contracts began in 21 June 2016 for certain contracts, with many more soon to follow, until all in-scope contracts are subject to the obligations by 9 August 2019. The European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) requires certain classes of OTC derivative contracts to be


Several large Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan, have requested five more years to comply with the Volcker rule, in order to sell their holdings which will become more difficult to sell as the summer deadline moves closer.  If their request is accepted, it will give them until 2022 to


On 5 August 2016, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released a discussion paper on the ‘Strengthening of the Regulatory framework for Algorithmic Trading and Co-location’. This is yet another step in the global movement towards increased control on algorithmic trading. In the paper, SEBI proposes several suggestions for comment by all stakeholders


On 18 July 2016, ESMA, the European Securities and Markets Authority, published its advice to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on extending the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) passport to 12 non-EU countries: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the


With the upcoming presidential election on 8 November 2016 and Trump’s growing popularity in the polls over the past few months, it is becoming increasingly important for regulators, banks and other financial institutions to gain a greater understanding of his economic agenda.  Well before he launched his current campaign, Trump attacked increased regulation following the


By January 2018, European legislation will have significantly changed the financial services sector. The sheer volume of transactions, products and firms affected by new regulation means that we can say goodbye to the trading landscape we currently know. In particular, new rules under MiFID II will impact how and where market participants execute trades. All


DerivSource and JWG podcast on Brexit

Last week, JWG had the pleasure of taking part in a podcast to discuss the recent publication of our Brexit research paper.  Hosted by Julia Schieffer from DerivSource, the podcast, which can be found here, takes an in-depth look at some of the most pertinent issues raised in the report. The discussion focused on the


In a week which has seen cyber-risk cement itself on the agendas of regulators across the world, we’ve witnessed action in the trading space with plenty of developments occurring in Europe’s markets in financial instruments’ overhaul, as well as a concerted effort to rethink the way in which regulations and regulators work in the financial services industry.


With 23 June just around the corner and a vote deciding the future of the UK in the EU on the horizon, we at JWG have issued a ground-breaking report today – Brexit: changing out the engine of finance. The report finds significant technical and leadership challenges ahead in the event of a decision to


On 24 March, as part of the UK’s effort to set rules to transpose the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) set out its proposals in its first consultation paper. The application deadline for MiFID II/R has been delayed by one-year to 3 January 2018, with just the European


In the post-Easter week, regulators were busy shining a spotlight on remuneration practices in the industry.  We saw the EBA releasing a report looking at the high earners in EU banks and ESMA focusing on sound remuneration policies under the UCITS Directive and AIFMD. The FSB also met in Tokyo to discuss their priorities for


UK investment managers are becoming increasingly vocal in the Brexit debate, with the June referendum possibly marking a turning point for the industry.  These are top players in the European fund management industry, yet their dominance is dependent on the ability to do business across the continent.  In this sense, regulation matters … a lot. 


Continuing on from part 1, where we discussed the European regulator’s priorities for Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) and Trade Repositories (TRs) for 2016, we now look at the nature and focus of the work the regulator plans to carry out this year to promote supervisory convergence. In October 2015, the European Securities and Markets Authority


With the MiFID II delay finally official, implementation teams received the good news that they had been waiting for patiently for months.  But now is not the time to rest on their laurels. Completing all of the work required to change technology systems, policies and procedures in line with MiFID II was considered an impossibility


It’s official! MiFID II is delayed

After months of rumour and speculation, The European Commission has today finally spoken out on the delay of MiFID II.  The Commission has announced a 1-year extension to the implementation, making the new deadline 3 January 2018. In justifying their decision, The Commission cites “the complex technical infrastructure that needs to be set up for


Following the announcement of a landmark deal on international cooperation over tax avoidance last week, Tuesday saw the signing of a transatlantic pact on data transfer.  Even when the EU are in the process of stocktaking the cumulative effects of regulation so far, there is clearly no break in the ongoing pace of financial markets


On 22 December 2015, ESMA published 10 guidelines on cross-selling practices under MiFID II.  However, as noted in our previous article, these guidelines were not released as initially intended by the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) – EBA, EIOPA and ESMA. Alongside the guidelines, ESMA put out a press release stating that “in light of


In December of 2015, the European Parliament released a report “on stocktaking and challenges of EU financial services regulation” and, on Tuesday 19 January, the text was adopted by a majority vote of the Parliament in Strasbourg. So, what does it say? Compiled by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), the report assesses


After a long week at Davos, there are a number of interesting conclusions from this year’s World Economic Forum.  China appears to have come out less of a worry than it was when it went in, with the IMF’s Christine Lagarde stating that the country is going through a transitional stage towards sustainable growth, and


In the past month, we’ve celebrated the holiday season and brought in the new year, but there has been no rest for the wicked and regulators have been busy scrambling to meet deadlines and push out new regulatory documents.  In the period before Christmas, we witnessed a lot of developments and it’s safe to say


Over the last week, regulators have been signalling that they will not be tolerating risky or illegal finance in 2016 any more than in the previous year.  Margin requirements are back on the table, along with bankers’ remuneration and fines – plenty of fines.  Despite this, the inquiry into the UK FCA’s scrapped banking review


The new year has not brought any better luck for China’s economy. As stocks continue to slump, the People’s Bank has again devalued the Yuan to somewhat limited results. Meanwhile the debate over how best to control Wall Street is getting no less fiery. Bernie Sanders has made clear his intentions to ringfence investment banks


Cross-selling clarity

On 22 December 2015, ESMA published a final report outlining guidelines on cross-selling practices under MiFID II.  This follows the publication of a consultation paper in December 2014 by the European Supervisory Authorities which requested feedback from stakeholders and this final report represents such feedback.  While the guidelines were initially intended to be produced by a


On 24 November 2015, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) unanimously approved a notice of proposed rulemaking addressing several issues related to automated trading.  These proposed rules have been collectively termed ‘Regulation Automated Trading’ or ‘Regulation AT’. Regulation AT has been designed to reduce the likelihood of automated trading disruptions and potential risks and


Happy Christmas from JWG

2015 has been an important year in financial services regulation, it has witnessed regulators and the industry alike struggling to deal with drafting, interpreting and implementing a vast array of new requirements across trading, financial crime, risk and structural regulations. The year has been just as busy for us and our RegTech platform as it


With the new year on the horizon, and mounting pressure from our clients, JWG are gearing up for another MiFID II implementation training course.  Given all the current talk about a potential delay, it would be easy to sit back and breathe a sigh of relief.  However, that would be a big mistake.  There is


Financial regulation remains as complex as ever. Complex new niches such as shadow banking, Fintech, and Over-the-Counter Derivatives, and the increasing interconnectedness of Financial Institutions (FIs) across the world, have led to greater risks to be managed for regulators. With this in mind, how they manage to get ahead of these rapid financial evolutions and


SFTs: out of the shadows and into the light

The final text for the new regulation on the reporting and transparency of securities financing transactions has been finalised after the Parliament adopted the text of the regulation at its first reading on 29 October. The Council subsequently adopted the text on 16 November and now the industry needs to prepare itself for yet another


ESMA officially come out for MiFID II delay

Yesterday, ESMA published a note – originally from 2 October – regarding the potential for a delay to MiFID II.  The note is categorical in its support of a delay to the MiFID II framework, and it will only further fuel the flames of those screaming for more time.  Below are some key highlights from


Julia Schieffer, the founder and editor of DerivSource.com, recently interviewed PJ Di Giammarino, CEO of JWG Group, on some of the key stumbling blocks of MiFID II requirements. Extracts from the interview detailing issues on reference data, the transparency principle and how financial institutions are implementing changes can be seen below. The full transcript and


JWG analysis. Following the financial crisis, regulators were concerned about the risks of shadow banking, including Money Market Funds (MMFs). The European Parliament is still discussing the regulation which the European Commission issued on 4 September 2013 and it’s likely that a revised draft will be released. This article answers 5 key questions about the


The MiFID framework is venturing into unchartered territory as European legislators aim to place new restrictions on commodity markets.  This element of MiFID II has been one of the most contentious parts of a highly controversial process.  In light of the recent publication of the Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) by ESMA, we look at five


PRESS RELEASE:  Think-tank deploys RegDelta to help train MiFID II workforce JWG, the financial services regulation think-tank, are offering a ground-breaking new face-to-face training course on 3 November 2015 in London.  Ground-breaking, because it is supported by the complete library of MiFID II documentation now loaded in RegDelta. The clock is ticking for the thousands


JWG analysis. As financial regulations keep piling up in the post-crisis world, it becomes increasingly difficult to recognise the similarities and differences between them.  The interdependencies on the Know Your Customer (KYC) front are present, but somewhat tangled.  Here we provide an overview of the current and upcoming client classification requirements under prominent regulations, and


With the MiFID II technical standards finally being published, the time is right to give our successful MiFID II implementation training its latest run on 3 November in London. We suspect that, soon, regulators will be asking tough questions about how you plan to be ready for system integration testing in a mere nine months


JWG analysis. According to an article by Rachel Wolcott of Thomson Reuters, the FCA have now elucidated that they will operate a zero-tolerance policy with firms not giving their all on the approaching MiFID II deadline. Hopes have been dashed that the sheer size and complexity of the regulation would either push back the deadline


MiFID II technical standards published

Today, ESMA has published the long-awaited MiFID II Technical Standards, leaving implementation teams across the industry with hundreds of pages to get to grips with.  The publication confirms that MiFID II will represent the biggest change to the regulatory framework in living memory.  It represents an extremely complex puzzle, but at least now we have


Defining HFT and DEA under MiFID II

By Sam Tyfield and JWG. Following on from our previous article, the devil is in the definitions, where we unravelled the definitions for High Frequency Trading (HFT) and Direct Electronic Access (DEA) provided within the MiFID II texts, now we explain how these definitions will apply in practice. What is HFT? Well, that’s a question


JWG analysis. One of the key themes of MiFID II  has been to enhance regulation in order to better protect investors within the financial services industry, and regulators continue to propose more and more stringent regulations for financial institutions. Following on from part 1, this article explores five more significant characteristics of best execution under


JWG analysis. Whilst the most eye-catching changes to the MiFID regime tend to have fallen within the market infrastructure bucket, there have also been many small amendments to the investor protection area (consequently representing a significant regulatory reform). Overall, the EU has proposed additional layers of regulation to protect investors, in the hope that this


JWG analysis. Regulators have given a huge boost to the small and medium enterprise (SME) markets under EuVECA, which aims to support the harmonisation and growth of the EU’s venture capital funds.  Venture capital funds are investment funds that specifically focus on pooling funding from other financial institutions (such as pension funds) in order to


JWG analysis. The minutes of the latest MiFID II implementation roundtable, on 17 July, were published in August.  At the meeting, the FCA spoke with a number of industry trade bodies, including the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA), to


ESMA’s proposal for changes to EMIR

JWG analysis. Derivative contracts are not a financial innovation of recent decades, allegedly coming into use around 1700 BC in ancient Mesopotamia.  On 16 August 2012, a new chapter in derivatives’ history was written when the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) entered into force, as part of a global initiative to reduce counterparty and operational


JWG analysis. “This regulation has the possibility to create a strong ecosystem for social enterprises across the union” In December 2011, the European Commission issued a press release highlighting the problems that businesses face when seeking conventional sources of funding due to the confusion surrounding their mix of social goals and business techniques.  Responses from


JWG analysis. This month, ESMA published four reports in which they outlined the modifications that they believe are needed to the EMIR legal framework. JWG have had a look and, below, we pick out five key changes that are being proposed. Clearing obligation. ESMA is recommending two minor changes to the clearing obligation.  These are


JWG analysis. Last year’s Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) saw fresh demand from regulators for a more transparent and efficient framework for EU CSD services and operations.  The main aims of CSDR are to increase the safety and efficiency of the post-trade environment, primarily through the harmonisation of settlement cycles and settlement discipline for CSDs. 


Piecing RFQs into the MiFID II puzzle

JWG analysis. With many of the regulations that have come into force since the 2008 financial crash, the rules may appear simple enough, but the devil is very much in the detail.  MiFID II is no exception. With MiFID II looking to enhance transparency within the industry, firms that currently provide RFQ services must consider


JWG analysis. With Australia and Canada having already adopted new rules to oversee trading within dark pools, it is now Europe’s turn to shed some light on this activity. Considering that only about 9% of European equities were traded within dark pools in 2014 (in comparison to about 40% in the US), it may seem


JWG analysis. It may have taken five years and five regulatory agencies to bring about, but the final version of the Volcker rule has officially landed. The Volcker Rule, also known as Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), was named after former Federal Reserve chair, Paul Volcker, who


JWG analysis. On 21 July 2010, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank for short) into law.  Since its inception, the number of pages of Dodd-Frank related rules has risen to 22,296, representing over a 550% increase on the 4,049 pages released in the first year. It may have


JWG analysis. With MiFID II looking set to radically change the financial trading environment as we know it, following on from part 1, in this article we explore 5 more key changes we are anticipating by 2017.   6. Increasing competition In line with the policy focus on competition, the European Commission (EC) proposed rules


JWG analysis. The removal of a number of financial practices has altered the regulatory environment in recent decades.  With new landmark legislations coming in to play soon, regulators across Europe look set to bring down the curtain on another. Under the existing practice of bundled commissions, asset managers charge clients to manage their funds but


JWG analysis. By January 2017, European financial services legislation will have significantly changed the financial services sector.  The sheer volume of transactions, products and firms affected by the new regulation means that we can say goodbye to the trading landscape we currently know.   In part 1 of this article, we discuss five of the


The devil is in the definitions

JWG analysis. In an article earlier this week, we highlighted some of the key challenges for firms engaged in HFT activities under MiFID II.  In this piece, we will focus in more detail on one particular area of change under MiFID II, namely algorithmic trading and the implications of regulators rewriting the dictionary for it. 


Part 2: HFT firms on trial

JWG analysis. In part 1, we focused on the consultation paper published by the FCA on 7 July, CP 15/22, in which the UK’s financial regulator proposed that managers responsible for algorithmic trading should also be covered under the new Senior Managers and Certification Regime.  But, as many readers will know, it is not only


By Sam Tyfield and JWG. It has been widely rumoured that the level 2 MiFID II will define the high frequency algorithmic trading technique (HFATT) as one which has a high message intraday rate in which there is a minimum of four messages being sent  per second for all instruments traded on a trading venue. 


JWG analysis. At CISI’s Annual Conference, Verena Ross presented the latest outlook on EU regulation, covering the Capital Markets Union (CMU), ongoing work in relation to investor protection and the digitalisation of financial services. Ross once more emphasised how a successful CMU, based on a single capital market in the EU, promotes the attractiveness of


JWG analysis. Today ESMA published a Q&A, aiming to clarify the status of investment-based crowdfunding platforms which are outside the scope of MiFID and, therefore, not automatically subject to rules designed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing under AMLD III. Investment-based crowdfunding platforms can have a different regulatory status.  Some are within the scope


JWG analysis. As we pointed out in our third piece on regulatory reporting, and at an Infoline conference for the buy-side this week in London, the overarching question is how will firms’ derivative activity be judged to be ‘good enough’ in 2017? There is no single answer, and we won’t really know until the results


We are now less than 400 work days away from MiFID II’s big bang and ‘implementation’ is now the name of the game.  Yes, there will be a final version, but the vast majority of what is in the drafts is likely to remain the same. On 7 July, City & Financial Global will hold


JWG analysis. We are less than 115 days from the point when the first phase of new energy trading reporting obligations kicks in across the EU.  Amidst a recent industry outcry to develop more consistent data reporting standards, the requirements introduced by the Regulation on Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) are yet another example


JWG analysis. In her speech at IDX 2015 this week, Verena Ross, Executive Director, European Securities and Markets Authority, addressed the two major EU legislative projects affecting derivatives trading: MiFID II and EMIR. Here we present some of the key issues she highlighted. 1.  MiFID II timeframe and technical standards The decisive date for application of MiFID II


JWG analysis. As we have been reporting for the past 18 months, MiFID II is massive and the delta between it and MiFID I is cavernous.  JWG’s MiFID Implementation Group (MIG) weekly workshops have been actively delving into the ‘known unknowns’ of the sell-side all year and we are pleased to help promote City &


JWG analysis. Given the 5 year latency between flash crash and recent arrest, John Bates wondered whether the regulators were riding bicycles to try and catch up with the sporty cars driven by the Flash Boys, the high-frequency traders. Although HFT represents a large percentage of trading volume, what ‘it’ is and how it can


New EU islands to explore post Easter!

JWG analysis. We’re used to watching our document trackers spin out of control in so-called ‘quiet’ times.  As we wrote in January, the last 2 weeks of 2014 year saw global FS regulators pump out over 4,000 pages. These Easter holidays were little better with 2,000 pages of regulatory text released in two weeks.  It


JWG analysis. As MiFID programmes take off and top tier firms tackle MiFID II implementation, the banking sector is about to be hit by even more pressure to produce reports about trading activity. The proposed regulation, aimed at enhancing the transparency of securities financing transactions (SFTs), seeks to ‘balance the scales’ between the two sectors


JWG analysis. Firms have plenty of planes in the air right now.  The regulatory pressure on firms to ‘get KYC right’ in the form of new financial crime regulation, such as FATCA or AMLD IV, and huge fines means they will need to juggle these changes amidst an ongoing regulatory implementation effort. How you need


JWG analysis. We attended an august gathering of 400+ buy-side professionals last week.  Not only did regulatory drivers get a healthy hearing, but the group discussed how they will impact the way business is going to be handled in the future. Clearly, margins are under pressure, brokers are not giving it away like they once


Are EU algo rules converging?

By Sam Tyfield and JWG. Here algo again … Yesterday, ESMA published a notice stating that supervision of automated trading across the EU (in compliance with the ESMA guidelines from 2012) was converging.  We found that interesting – a closer look at the BaFin’s rules versus those MiFID II/R creates would appear to show less


G20 reform – TSAM helicopter view

Regulation is coming thick and fast. With predicted document count of 200,000 by 2018, dealing with the deluge in a page-by-page, regulation-by-regulation approach is becoming impossible as G20 commitments spread across many rulebooks. Firms trying to tackle the changes one-by-one will end up with sky-high implementation costs and conflicting priorities – unless they take action


Knowing the compliant customer in 2016

JWG analysis. Regulations like FATCA, EMIR and Dodd-Frank have asked us to collect more information on our customers than ever before – but now it’s clear that was just the start of the story.  New regulation finds regulators even hungrier for information on the firm’s relationship with its customer, together with details of how information


With the second round of MiFID II consultation now officially over, the time is right to get our MiFID II implementation training ready to fly on 24 March in London. We suspect that, soon, regulators will be asking tough questions about how you plan to be ready for system integration testing in a mere 350


MiFID II: here I come, ready or not …

JWG analysis. The second round of MiFID II consultation has officially ended.  As we have previously noted, the tone from the recent hearing was that, despite more consultation due on some of the fine print, we are largely done discussing the standards and can now begin to start thinking about how to implement them. On


MiFID II implementation: ready for blast off!

JWG analysis. This month, ESMA hosted a broad cross-section of market participants for a final ‘hearing’ on the MIFID II technical standards they will send to Brussels for approval this summer.  Of course, many attendees were surprised to find that, while they were en route to Paris to sit for 10 hours with 350 of


Are your regulatory tribes sharing?

JWG analysis. As we read the comments on our last article on the five tribes of regulatory reform, we were struck by the visceral reaction to the suggestion of sharing the agenda.  “Hands-off, that’s my mortgage you’re messing with”, commented one lawyer.  We wonder, can tribes achieve their overarching regulatory goals if they are NOT


By Robin Poynder, FMR advisory. Advancements in price distribution technologies and the advent of high frequency trading have forced firms’ IT departments to establish strict controls around best practice pricing for trades. CEO of FMR Advisory, Robin Poynder, explains the need for a standardised protection mechanism “last look”. “Some argue that last look is a


Doing regulation right? Go tribal

JWG analysis. It’s only February and we’ve laid out quite a programme of work for 2015.  Digesting the 4,000-page Christmas gift, curing the KYC sickness, cutting a trail through MiFID II and taming your global trading troubles – and we’re not yet at the midpoint of the first quarter.  Sadly, it is not a blip


JWG analysis. The chief of the CFTC pronounced from Japan this week that implementing regulatory reform means overcoming “legal traditions, regulatory philosophies, political processes, and market concerns”.  Looking at the global trading regulatory climate that surrounds MiFID II, we couldn’t agree more. Those struggling to digest the MiFID II texts and get to Paris for


Your path through the MiFID II jungle

JWG analysis. The industry returned after the break knowing that it had fewer than 500 working days to implement MiFID II but found over 2,000 pages of new text to read.  Even worse, the grapevine whispers that more is due out this month. As we’ve written before, organising and planning is the order of the


The Christmas gift …

JWG analysis. While most of us basked in the holiday spirit, the regulatory Grinches were hard at work.  In the two-week period between 19 December and 2 January, regulatory bodies in the UK, EU and US alone published over 40 critical documents. JWG’s tracking revealed a broad range of subjects.  CRD IV/CRR, BRRD, UCITS V,


2015: time for your new operating model?

JWG analysis. 60 attendees across the buy and sell-sides came together at Markit’s seminar in Stockholm last month to discuss today’s industry challenges.  They concluded that a new focus on establishing a flexible banking operating model to meet both business and regulatory demands for data, processes and standards, is top on their wish list for 2015.


JWG analysis. In our last article on this topic, we spelt out our views on regulatory implementation standards.  And the first standard that needs to be defined is how you’re going to organise your work programmes. The shape of your MiFID II programme MiFID II is far beyond just a few ‘tweaks’ to MiFID I.  So much


Crypto-currencies and the network effect

By Darragh O’Grady and JWG. It is very easy to get confused and overwhelmed by all the crypto-currencies (or math-based currencies) out there. It started out relatively simple with just bitcoin a few years ago. Now other currencies have joined the fray, including but not limited to, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Peercoin, Ethereum, Mastercoin, Counterparty, Ripple, NXT,


Trade reporting – watch out!

JWG analysis. The challenges of gaining oversight over the financial system are not going unnoticed.  We come back from the summer holidays with 5 leading indicators that suggest we are on the brink of bad news.  Bad news that is likely to spread far and wide. Firstly, in a new report, the US Government Accountability


JWG analysis. As the sun slips back into hibernation, schools reopen and autumn looms, regulators, lawyers, risk specialists, change managers and compliance professionals are returning to their desks. Here at JWG we have been busy tabulating the enormous level of movement in the regulatory space during the summer. For those of you lucky enough to


JWG analysis. This summer, regulatory pressure on financial services firms has ratcheted up to unprecedented levels.  Many may have breathed a sigh of relief as Dodd-Frank rule-making slowed … but the respite was only fleeting.  Since July, the industry has been bombarded with 39 new consultation papers (in the EU and UK alone) just as


JWG analysis. We learnt something this month.  The reason Europe calls it a regulatory ‘hearing’ is that it is an opportunity to hear views from both regulators and the market.  Of course, that’s just part of the experience as many other senses are triggered when 400 people are locked in a basement for 2 days,


By Jon Watkins, The TRADE. European regulators opened their doors to market participants this week, who had their voices heard on the key points of MiFID II relating to the derivatives markets. Trade reporting, open access to clearing houses and high-frequency trading were just a handful of the contentious topics discussed during an two-days of


ESMA gets an earful from industry

By Anna Reitman, Automated Trader. Public hearing was a marathon run for industry questions and comments on every aspect of upcoming MiFID II and MiFIR reforms. We highlight a few issues, including market making obligations and requirements that could find direct market access providers identifying clients’ proprietary algorithms. Paris – As the financial industry prepares


JWG analysis. The desire for tighter controls on algorithmic trading is growing globally.  Trading rules in the major financial centres will quickly set new minimum thresholds. As described in our previous piece on how algos are defined and controlled, Europe is again leading the pack and would appear to have serious intent to change the


JWG analysis. Regulators across the globe appear divided on the question of whether tighter control of algorithmic trading is necessary. The Australians are pretty laid back about it, the Germans are ahead of the game, whilst political debate rages in the US.  Regardless, while the value of algo trading to global markets is generally considered


By Dominic Hobson, COOConnect. If you are a hedge fund manager, it is always tempting to believe that you are too small to be of interest to regulators. Or not the intended target of regulation at all. The fact that resources are too short to understand the detail of every regulation tends to encourage this (potentially ostrich-like) approach.


By Chris Kentouris. EMIR, it’s short for European Market Infrastructure Regulation. It has also become a four-letter word for fund managers struggling to fulfill reporting requirements. About five months after the effective date for fund managers and broker dealers to send details of trades executed on exchange-listed and over-the-counter swap transactions to recognized trade repositories, fund managers are


Super Tuesday RegDelta alert no 1

JWG analysis Last week, long after the news of Super Tuesday which reshaped the EU regulatory landscape, Europe made MiFID II, MAR, CSMAD, DGSD and the BRRD law of the land. The final Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) , weighing in at a slim 69% fewer pages thanks to repagination, appears to be


JWG analysis. This month the Japanese Financial Services Agency published their latest FAQ on the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). The current version of FIEA was approved and enacted in June 2006.  It aims to: make Japanese financial and capital markets more adaptive to environmental change; promote investor protection and improve competition; ensure that


JWG analysis. The continent was rocked by far more than parliamentary elections on 22 May. Early reports from major financial centres confirm the impact from the 844 pages of text released by ESMA on MiFID II / MIFID to be about a 9 on the Richter scale – so high that ESMA’s website gave up


JWG has extracted the following questions from ESMA‘s Consultation Paper on MiFID/MiFIR Technical Advice.  ESMA needs to deliver this advice to the European Commission by December 2014 and is therefore subject to a condensed consultation process for this paper. For more on MiFID/MiFIR see here. Q1.      Do you agree with the proposed cumulative conditions to be