Derivatives marketplace CME Group and interdealer broker and financial technology provider GFI Group have received regulatory approval for CME Group’s previously announced acquisition of GFI Group, officials say. The acquisition still needs to be approved by GFI’s stockholders before it can proceed, and GFI will hold a special meeting of its stockholders on January 27… Read More >>
Time for Ops Resolutions for 2015?
The New Year brings opportunities to take on post-trade securities operations challenges or at least take the time to review the progress your firm has made in its trajectory to operational efficiency. It’s also a chance to make resolutions that will guide the firm throughout the year. To help firms craft a list of Ops… Read More >>
CFTC Wins $1.2B in Restitution for M.F. Global Clients
On Christmas Eve, the CFTC is bringing good tidings to those clients left in the lurch by the bankruptcy of MF Global Holdings Ltd. (MFGH). The regulator via the federal court in New York is ordering MFGH to pay $1.212 billion in restitution for the unlawful use of customer funds and to pay a $100… Read More >>
Deutsche Bank FCM Settles with CFTC for $3M
The CFTC is ordering Deutsche Bank Securities (DBSI), a New York-based futures commission merchant (FCM), to pay $3 million to settle charges of improper investment of customer segregated funds, reporting and recordkeeping violations, and supervision failures. CFTC officials say they acknowledge the FCM’s “cooperation and corrective action” after deficiencies were discovered. A spokesperson for the… Read More >>
Ops Story of the Year: The Return of the T+2 Push
It’s been a dynamic year when straight through processing (STP) and the push for T+2 settlement cycles made big comebacks while disturbing layoffs and ongoing fines and penalties appeared to be on the rise. We at FTF News have compiled the following list of the top Ops stories, trends, new currents and online video coverage… Read More >>
Euronext Taps Cinnober for Trade Validation & Confirmation
Cinnober Financial Technology reports the signing of an order with Euronext, the European exchange group, for a trade validation and confirmation solution that will run on its Tradexpress trading platform and be adapted to Euronext’s specific requirements. The planned service is expected to launch with equity derivatives in the spring of 2015, according to a… Read More >>
DTCC’s GTR Launches in Canada
Post-trade services provider DTCC has taken another step toward its goal of establishing an industry-wide repository for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives via the launch of its Global Trade Repository (GTR) in Canada, which will target buy-side firms when they begin reporting next year. The Ontario Securities Commission, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers in Québec and the… Read More >>
Q&A: Post-Trade Integration Key to SEF Success
James Cawley was a co-founder of Javelin Capital Markets, the parent company of the pioneering Javelin SEF (swap execution facility). As regulators and the industry laid the groundwork for SEFs, Cawley took on a very public role in helping shape the rules and regulations of over-the-counter derivatives trading reform. Most recently, he led a key… Read More >>
Banca Generali Signs Up for Bond Hosting Service
Italian banking group Banca Generali is among the first customers to use the hosted connectivity platform, Valdi Market Access, now with access to the fixed income market MTS BondVision, say SunGard Financial Systems officials. The vendor declines to mention the other customers of the expanded Valdi Market Access service. “Expanding our capabilities in the fixed… Read More >>
The Age of SEFs Stumbles Forward
It’s been just over a year since swap execution facilities (SEF) inauspiciously opened for business on Oct. 2, 2013 – “A day that I’ll never forget,” in the words of one SEF operator present at the SEFCON V conference on Wednesday. Panelists at the event, sponsored by the Wholesale Markets Brokers’ Association, highlighted how far… Read More >>