FIA EPTA has responded to the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s public consultation on changes to its approach to enforcement investigations. The proposed changes include the FCA publicly announcing the opening of an investigation and disclosing the identity of the subject of the investigation where it considers this to be in the public interest. While the associations support the FCA’s commitment to making its activities more transparent, they are concerned that the proposed approach will be detrimental to the orderly functioning of UK capital markets with limited value to public interest.
CONTINUE READINGFIA has responded to the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s public consultation on changes to its approach to enforcement investigations. The proposed changes include the FCA publicly announcing the opening of an investigation and disclosing the identity of the subject of the investigation where it considers this to be in the public interest. FIA is concerned that the proposed approach will be detrimental to the orderly functioning of UK capital markets, with limited value to public interest.
CONTINUE READINGIn a letter filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the FIA Principal Traders Group (FIA PTG) urged the SEC to disapprove Nasdaq’s proposed rule changes to Expand the Cabinet Proximity Option Program and to Establish a Reservation Fee. FIA PTG raised three principal concerns with respect to the Proposed Rule Changes all in connection with Nasdaq’s existing data center facilities in Carteret, NJ (NY11) and Nasdaq’s new facility under construction just to the north of NY11 (NY11-4).
CONTINUE READINGFIA EPTA members welcome the aim to provide general conditions and clarity on the divergence between financial instruments and crypto-assets. However, FIA EPTA members believe that in the suggested approach by ESMA, there is too much focus and room for interpretation for NCAs, we believe that clear criteria from ESMA are critical to define the regulatory perimeter between MiFID II and MiCAR.
CONTINUE READINGFIA has urged the CFTC to take a "technology-neutral" approach and focus on "outcomes and use cases" rather than the technology itself. FIA also urged the CFTC to consider the applicability of its existing rules and regulations before presupposing that new, AI-specific regulations are needed.
CONTINUE READINGIn a letter filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today, the FIA Principal Traders Group (FIA PTG) joined FIA, CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange in responding to the CFTC’s request for comment on the uses of artificial intelligence in derivatives markets. The letter commends the CFTC for seeking public input and hopes this is the first of many steps the CFTC will take to better understand any potential, risks, and use cases for AI.
CONTINUE READINGFCMs are currently relying on no-action relief that allows them to separately margin accounts of the same beneficial owner. This rule marks the second attempt by the CFTC to codify that relief. FIA’s letter asks the CFTC to codify the relief as written without laying on additional highly prescriptive requirements that limit FCM discretion to risk manage accounts.
CONTINUE READINGUnder current rules, US-based commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisers, futures commission merchants and prop firms can directly access Foreign Boards of Trade. The pending rule would include US-based introducing brokers among the permissioned registrants. FIA’s letter supports the proposed expansion, noting that adding introducing brokers to the mix should provide more brokerage options for US customers and promote liquidity in foreign products.
CONTINUE READINGIndustry experts discuss the structural shifts they are seeing as the derivatives industry moves to modernise its markets.
CONTINUE READINGFIA has responded to the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation’s proposals to revise its customer clearing access models and to modify its margin segregation rules in order to implement the SEC’s new clearing mandate for U.S. Treasuries. FIA's response identifies conflicts between the proposed access structures and CFTC rules to which FCMs are subject.
CONTINUE READING