Europe

Market Infrastructure

Huatai Securities Wins First Approval to Issue GDRs in London

By Editors | 03/12/2018

The approval marks the launch of the Shanghai-London Stock Connect, which allows China- and London-listed firms to issue depository receipts in each other’s markets.

Big Picture

Industry Bodies Call for Extended Benchmarks Regulation Transition Period

By Manesh Samtani | 22/11/2018

ISDA, FIA, GFMA and EMTA have jointly published a briefing advocating an extension of the Benchmark Regulation transition period for critical and non-critical benchmarks.

Fintech / Regtech

Singapore, UK Sign MoU on Fintech Collaboration

By Editors | 19/11/2018

The agreement builds on the existing fintech bridge between the UK and Singapore and intends to foster closer ties on fintech industry initiatives.

Market Infrastructure

ESMA Proposes Relief from EMIR Clearing Obligation in No-Deal Brexit

By Manesh Samtani | 09/11/2018

In a no-deal Brexit, ESMA’s proposal would give EU firms 12 months to replace UK counterparties in legacy derivative contracts without triggering the EMIR clearing obligation.

Market Infrastructure

GDPR and Hong Kong’s PDPO: Are They So Different?

By Peter Lancos | 06/11/2018

Hong Kong’s data privacy ordinance is conceptually similar to GDPR, but perhaps with ‘smaller teeth’, say Peter Lancos and Jennifer Boyse at Exate Technology.

Big Picture

European Firms Will Have Access to UK Clearing in No-Deal Brexit

By Manesh Samtani | 01/11/2018

European traders will temporarily be able to use UK derivatives clearing services even without a Brexit deal in place, according to the European Commission’s Valdis Dombrovskis.

Big Picture

Asia Struggles to Meet 2020 EU Benchmarks Regulation Deadline

By Editors | 31/10/2018

A number of non-EU benchmark administrators may fail to obtain BMR registration by January 2020, according to a new report from ASIFMA and Herbert Smith Freehills.

AML / KYC

Europe’s AMLD5 and its Impact on AML Regulations in Asia

By Claus Christensen | 15/10/2018

While AMLD5 confirms the EU’s leadership role in AML legislation, similar efforts have been seen in Asia, says Claus Christensen at Know Your Customer Ltd.

Market Infrastructure

ISDA, EU Industry Bodies Warn of ‘Cliff Edge’ Effects ‘No Deal’ Brexit

By Manesh Samtani | 10/10/2018

New paper proposes steps that can be taken now to mitigate potentially systemic consequences of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement and transition period in place.