US President Donald Trump’s decision in January to classify drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists has put anti-money laundering compliance executives at US financial institutions doing business in Latin America on high alert when it comes to their AML programs. Based on the US Department of State including eight drug […]
SEC: Clear Path For Crypto Asset Custody?
The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision last year to fine Galois Capital for violating its custody rule as well as potential changes to that regulation under the new crypto-friendly Trump administration are fueling speculation about whether one of the critical stumbling blocks to the institutionalization of the crypto asset market– the safekeeping of crypto […]
Business of Human Rights in New EU Reg
Oversight of third-party vendors will soon take on a new human rights twist for many local and foreign financial firms doing business in the European Union thanks to the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The European legislation, otherwise called CS3D, forces firms to impose a moral code of conduct on their direct and indirect […]
SEC Exams 2025: T+1 Post-Mortem?
T+1 settlement isn’t over for the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Chief compliance officers at US fund management firms and broker-dealers must be prepared to show how they are meeting the challenge of a one-day settlement cycle, otherwise known as T+1 settlement, if requested by an examiner from the SEC next year. The onus appears […]
SEC’s Short Sale Reporting Rule Comes Up Short
Fund management firms, soon required to report their short sale positions with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, could end up scrambling at the last minute to make the necessary operational changes while praying the regulatory agency agrees with their interpretations of some of its unclear requirements. Buy-side firms appear to be hoping the SEC […]
BNY Hit With Final US$11M Fine For SS&C Contract Breach
SS&C Technologies Canada Corp. has won only US$11 million instead of the US$890 million it wanted, but it still scored a final moral victory against Bank of New York Mellon for violating the terms of its market data contract with the financial technology giant. The Ontario Court of Appeal let stand a lower trial court’s […]
Time for US-Based Fund Managers to Join DORA Bandwagon
Europe’s pending Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) should prompt fund managers in the US to review their third-party service relationships even if the legislation’s cross-border impact is ill-defined, warn legal and other experts. Effective on January 17, 2025, DORA is Europe’s way of including more than just banks and insurance firms in multiple current regulations […]
Private Fund Managers: Hello AML Compliance Officers
Chief compliance officers (CCOs) at private fund management firms could be saddled with the extra title of anti-money laundering compliance officer and a lot more work if a proposed AML rule from the FinCEN unit of the US Treasury takes effect. FinCEN, short for Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, has resurrected its longstanding desire for many […]
NY’s New Cyber Law Shines Stronger Light on C-Level
C-level executives at most financial firms operating in New York will have one more reason besides the fear of a data breach to change their corporate governance for cybersecurity this year– New York State’s amended regulation. Electronic securities lending and borrowing platform EquiLend’s recent announcement it was the target of a ransomware attack followed New […]
SEC’s Take on Predictive Data Analytics: A Failed Prediction?
Mindboggling isn’t a word often used when discussing proposals issued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, but the latest one for registered investment advisers and broker-dealers about addressing conflicts of interest when using predictive data analytics (PDA) and PDA-like technology appears to be a notable exception. If adopted as drafted, the SEC’s requirement would […]