MAS proposes to extend cross-border business exemption to foreign head offices and branches

26 March, 2021
On 15 March 2021, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a consultation paper inviting comments on the proposed exemption framework (Branch Framework) for cross-border business arrangements between financial institutions in Singapore (Singapore FIs) which are head offices or branches (Singapore Offices) and their respective foreign branches or head offices (Foreign Offices). Read more

“STABILITY AND CONSISTENCY”: PRA SETS OUT PROPOSALS FOR POST-BREXIT APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL BANKS

15 January, 2021
The PRA has published a consultation paper (CP2/21) setting out proposals for its updated approach to supervising the UK activities of banks and PRA authorised investment firms that are headquartered outside of the UK or part of a non-UK group. The consultation paper includes a draft supervisory statement to supersede the existing PRA Supervisory Statement 1/18 (the PRA’s current supervisory statement on its approach to supervising international banks). Read more

FSR Outlook 2021: Paving the Way Forward

09 December, 2020
We are pleased to announce the launch of FSR Outlook 2021: Paving the Way Forward. In this annual publication, we survey the regulatory landscape in 2021 and identify some themes that we expect to be at the core of regulatory priorities globally in the next 12 months. Read more

ESMA confirms EU’s hardline stance to MiFIR Derivatives Trading Obligation post-Brexit

26 November, 2020
In a frustrating twist to the dangerously slow-moving narrative on cross-border financial market access post- Brexit, ESMA yesterday (25 November) issued a public statement confirming the EU's hardline stance to the derivatives trading obligation (DTO) under MiFIR.  The DTO requires EU investment firms to trade certain classes of derivatives only on EU-authorised trading venues – or third country trading venues certified by the European Commission as equivalent. No such equivalence decision has been made or signalled by the EU for purposes of the DTO – and ESMA's latest statement declines to offer any forbearance or similar relief to EU firms currently using UK venues for this purpose. Read more