The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just released its Final Report, outlining key updates to bond market transparency rules under the MiFIR (Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation) Review. These changes, which cover bonds, structured finance products (SFPs), and emission allowances (EUAs), are all about improving transparency while ensuring fairness and protecting liquidity providers from undue risk.
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has just released its much-anticipated 2024 Stress Test, and it’s good news—sort of. European insurers are shown to be resilient enough to handle significant geopolitical disruptions, but the cost could be steep. It’s a mixed bag of reassuring strength and a reality check for the industry.
Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Illinois Attorney General, following claims of unfair practices that impacted diners, delivery drivers, and small businesses. The settlement addresses a series of deceptive actions by the food delivery giant, from hiding the true cost of delivery to making misleading claims about earnings for drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a rule formalizing its whistleblower program. This rule, which fulfills a mandate from the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, is designed to strengthen existing whistleblower protections and create a more transparent system for uncovering safety issues in the auto industry.
AI is reshaping Sweden’s financial industry at a breakneck pace. From streamlining operations to analyzing mountains of data, generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini are becoming indispensable for firms looking to gain an edge. But while the technology is rapidly becoming a fixture, the frameworks to manage the risks it brings are lagging dangerously behind.
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a New Jersey-based medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $175 million civil penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The settlement resolves allegations that BD misled investors about significant risks associated with its Alaris infusion pump, a product that once contributed about 10% of the company’s profits.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is making moves to fine-tune equity market transparency rules under MiFID II. On December 16, ESMA released its Final Report, laying out targeted changes that aim to simplify pre- and post-trade reporting, reduce redundant obligations, and make equity data more useful and accessible.