SEC Chair Gary Gensler says that the regulator must consider ways to protect investors vulnerable to the “Wild West” of cryptocurrencies, the trading and custody for crypto-based instruments, and the tokenization bandwagon. In remarks at the Aspen Security Forum on Aug. 3, Gensler noted that “the crypto asset class has ballooned. As of Monday [Aug…. Read More >>
EC Blesses IHS Markit-CME Joint Venture
Proposed J.V. Seen as Complementary CME Group, an operator of derivatives trading venues, and IHS Markit, an information and analytics vendor, have gotten the blessings of the European Commission for their joint venture of post-trade services. “The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over a newly created… Read More >>
DTCC Repository Fined for Alleged Data Breaches
The London-based DTCC Derivatives Repository Plc (DDRL), a suite of post-trade, record-keeping, and reporting services, has been fined by E.U. regulator European Securities and Markets Authority for seven alleged infringements of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation legislation governing data confidentiality, data integrity, and direct and immediate data access. The total fine is €408,000, or approximately… Read More >>
Equiti to Use FlexTrade’s FX Platform MaxxTrader
MaxxTrader to Bolster Equiti’s Prime Services Equiti, an online trading technology provider, will be using the MaxxTrader foreign exchange platform from FlexTrade Systems as the basis for its prime of prime services offering, officials say. MaxxTrader will help Equiti provide its prime of prime customers with “global FX liquidity aggregation, trade execution management, and institutional… Read More >>
Credit Suisse & CFTC Settle Swap Data Reporting Case
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has ordered Credit Suisse International, Credit Suisse Securities Europe Limited, and Credit Suisse Capital LLC — three Credit Suisse entities that are provisionally registered swap dealers — to pay $1.5 million for “failing to comply with swap data reporting obligations.” In addition to the financial penalty, the three Credit Suisse… Read More >>
DLT Meets Collateral Management via Partnership
CloudMargin & Ivno Bring DLT to Collateral & Margining CloudMargin, maker of a cloud-native collateral and margining solution, is working with Ivno, a financial markets tokenization vendor, to develop a collateral management solution that uses distributed ledger technology (DLT) and cloud computing, officials say. Their new strategic partnership will leverage Ivno’s DLT strengths and CloudMargin’s… Read More >>
Morgan Stanley Joins ICE Futures Abu Dhabi Exchange
IFAD Offers Hedging for Murban Oil Investment banking giant Morgan Stanley & Co. has joined the ICE Futures Abu Dhabi Exchange (IFAD), a new trading venue of exchanges operator Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), officials say. Morgan Stanley will be an exchange and clearing member. To offer ways to trade and hedge Murban crude oil, ICE launched… Read More >>
CME Group Ends Most Open Outcry Trading
Eurodollar Options Pits to Stay Open Derivatives exchanges operator CME Group has announced that the physical trading pits shut down since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic will remain permanently closed as global financial markets move toward a post-pandemic phase. Not all open outcry venues will close, though. “The Eurodollar options pit, which was… Read More >>
CFTC Pursues Alleged Bitcoin Swindler Gone Missing
It looks like a classic case of take the money and run. Following its investigation, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has gone to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and been awarded a massive default judgment against an alleged bitcoin fraudster. That alleged bitcoin fraudster is one Benjamin… Read More >>
Gensler’s SEC Chair Nomination Advances Amid GOP Pushback
Gary Gensler, President Joe Biden’s nominee for SEC chairman, last week won the approval of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee by a vote of 14 in favor to 10 against, signaling some resistance among Republicans as his nomination moves to a full vote before the U.S. Senate. If approved by the Senate, Gensler and the… Read More >>