Europe

Crypto / Digital Assets

BIS, SNB, SIX Complete wCBDC Integration Test with Bank Systems

By Editors | 13/01/2022

In the second phase of Project Helvetia, a wholesale CBDC was used to test settlement of interbank, monetary policy and cross-border transactions with banking systems.

Market Infrastructure

UK National Security and Investment Act 2021 Takes Effect

By Editors | 07/01/2022

The NSI Act gives the government broader powers to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions in 17 sectors that could give rise to national security risks.

Enforcement

BaFin Fines Deutsche Bank for Over EURIBOR Control Lapses

By Editors | 04/01/2022

BaFin found flaws in the processes used by Deutsche Bank to calculate EURIBOR between April 2019 and April 2020.

AML / KYC

UK Court Hands Down Longest Ever Jail Terms for Money Laundering

By Editors | 02/01/2022

A Russian and Lithuanian were sentenced to 16 and 17 years in prison, respectively, for laundering £70mn over four years.

Enforcement

UK Regulator Fines StanChart Over Liquidity Reporting Errors

By Editors | 24/12/2021

The PRA said StanChart’s internal controls and governance arrangements underpinning its regulatory reporting were not implemented or operating effectively.

AML / KYC

EBA Issues New Guidelines, Technical Standards for AML/CFT

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 23/12/2021

The guidelines cover supervisory cooperation and risk-based supervision of banks. New draft RTS are published for a new EU-wide database known as EuReCa.

Market Infrastructure

China to Expand Shanghai-London Stock Connect

By Editors | 21/12/2021

Under the proposed rules, the Stock Connect scheme will be expanded to allow participation from companies listed in Shenzhen, Switzerland and Germany.

ESG / Sustainability

FCA’s TCFD Rules for Asset Managers to Allow for Data Gaps

By ESG Investor | 20/12/2021

Product-level disclosures to users can be limited for transitional period where proxies deemed insufficient.

AML / KYC

FCA Fines HSBC Over ‘Prolonged’ AML Deficiencies

By Manesh Samtani | 19/12/2021

Three key parts of HSBC’s automated transaction monitoring systems showed “serious weaknesses” between March 2010 to March 2018.