Market abuse peer review (FCA Market Watch 73)

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published its latest Market Watch newsletter on 26th April 2023, following a market abuse peer review of firms offering Contracts for Difference (“CFDs”) and spread bets (“CFD providers”). Many of the findings are equally applicable to firms offering other financial instruments. This article provides a summary of the key […]

UK cryptoasset regulation

On 1 February 2023, HM Treasury (“HMT”) published a consultation[1] setting out proposals for the UK’s financial services regime for cryptoassets. The UK government has highlighted its ambition to make Britain a global hub for cryptoasset technology. Rishi Sunak previously asserted that “effective regulation” would encourage “the businesses of tomorrow to invest, innovate and scale […]

FCA publishes letter to wholesale brokers

The FCA has published a portfolio letter setting out a new strategy for supervising wholesale brokers. The letter notes that periods of sustained volatility since 2019 have heightened financial, credit, liquidity and operational risks. The FCA observed that some firms’ liquidity risk management and stress testing was not fit for the current market environment. The […]

The FCA’s largest fine of 2022 – a lesson in regulatory change management

The FCA fined Citigroup Global Markets Limited (“CGML”) £12.6m for failing to properly implement the Market Abuse Regulation (“MAR”). Regulatory change is coming thick and fast for financial services firms, making effective change management controls more important than ever.  Below we look at some of the underlying failures in this case, in the hope that […]