European Commission (EC)
European Parliament to lay out final offer on bank resolution
Parliament tries to force Ecofin’s hand after a breakdown in negotiations
Esma calls for EC to overrule UK on forex reporting
"We need a solution," says Esma spokesman
Divergence over definition of FX derivatives emerging in EU
Luxembourg allows grace period for FX reporting at last minute
Mifid rules could force FX swaps onto OTFs
Trialogue negotiations on Mifid II are expected to conclude by February, but traders fear they could include a mandate for FX swaps to be traded on organised trading facilities
Regulators clash on Mifid waivers
Some regulators and brokers have expressed fears that exemptions included in Mifid may mean European rules on trade execution are not equivalent to the US – but a key parliamentarian disagrees
CFTC cross-border rules slammed as ‘rushed’
The CFTC appears to have made some concessions in its cross-border rules, but critics question how substituted compliance will work, and claim the overall framework has been rushed
CFTC-EC cross-border agreement causes concern
Lawyers warn allowing strictest regulation to prevail will create heavy-handed regime, and regulators have still not fully aligned on treatment of FX swaps
FTT would ‘drain financial resources’, GFXD research claims
The global FX division is upping its lobbying efforts to have FX derivatives carved out of the financial transaction tax with new research that shows the potential impact of the tax on transaction costs
Mifid delays cause frustration in OTC markets
Delays from the Council of the European Union in finalising its stance on the Mifid review mean the crucial trialogue negotiations are unlikely to commence before the second quarter, much to the frustration of market participants
Spotlight on: Mark Spanbroek, European Principal Traders Association
The EPTA’s vice-chairman and secretary-general talks to Robert Mackenzie Smith about the association’s mission to represent the interests of high-frequency traders to regulators, legislators and the market in general
Europe not obliged to follow US on FX exemption, warns senior MEP
The European Parliament's position on FX is that it should be included in the scope of organised trading rules under Mifid, vows Markus Ferber MEP
CFTC could force funds to break US or European law
The CFTC's broad definition of a US person could leave European hedge funds facing conflicting rules
Esma backtracks on indirect clearing
Final rules remove two controversial proposals, but revive regulators' concerns about access to clearing for small firms
Mifid amendments lift barrier to brokers owning OTFs
Tweaks to Mifid text would allow owners of OTFs to engage in matched principal trading
EU regulators prepare for frenetic countdown to Emir deadline
Senior officials expressed concern yesterday about the volume of work on derivatives reform that must be completed in a very short timeframe
UK Lords committee takes on financial transaction tax
The model proposed by the European Commission for a financial transaction tax would not meet its objectives and the UK government should redouble its efforts to veto the proposal, says the House of Lords
Esma must replicate US Treasury’s FX exemption, says EC official
Patrick Pearson, head of the European Commission unit that drafted Emir, says FX swaps and forwards must be exempt from clearing under Esma standards
Trading places, February 27, 2012
New appointments at Citi, MarketPrizm and ING Investment Management
Emir clearing rules agreed, but calls grow for extension to Esma deadlines
Delays in the adoption of Europe's new clearing rules have eaten into the time Esma has to meet its June 30 rule-writing deadline
Afme liquidity conference: Buy side urged to stand up and be counted on regulation
Speakers at Afme conference call on buy-side firms to join the sell side in lobbying regulators and ensuring the future market structure is appropriately calibrated
Icap's Spencer: 'not a prayer' of UK agreeing to FTT
Proposed EU trading tax would be vetoed by UK, says Icap's Spencer - if not, the broker will move its London HQ to New York
Emir set for Q2 completion, Barnier insists
Trialogue negotiations between the European Parliament and Council on derivatives reform are due to complete next week, with a view to finalising the text by April, says Michel Barnier
FX swap cost could rise from €279 to €2,779 under EU tax, warns Oliver Wyman
Research published today on behalf of the GFMA global FX division highlights the potentially punitive impact of the financial transaction tax on the FX industry
Spotlight on: Jeffrey Hogan, BGC Partners
BGC’s managing director for business development talks to Joel Clark about the interdealer broker’s voice and electronic broking capabilities in FX, and his extensive work with regulators to ensure new rules for over-the-counter derivatives are…