Compliance & Ethics

CFTC Official Advocates for the Establishment of a National Financial Fraud Database

Christy Goldsmith Romero, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has proposed the creation of a federal registry designed to streamline access to information related to past financial fraud convictions and civil fines.

French Watchdog Fines Rallye and CEO for Market Manipulation

France's financial regulatory authority, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), has announced fines against holding company Rallye and its Chief Executive Officer Franck Hattab for market manipulation. This decision comes as a response to alleged misconduct related to the dissemination of false or misleading information regarding Rallye's financial position.

SEC Levies $850,000 in Penalties Against Nine Investment Firms for Marketing Rule Violations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken action against nine investment advisory firms, imposing a collective $850,000 in civil penalties for marketing rule violations. The SEC's enforcement centers around the firms' promotion of hypothetical performance data without implementing the necessary policies mandated by regulators. These actions were found to be in breach of a 2020 rule designed to restrict advisers from showcasing hypothetical performance to investors unless specific policies were in place to ensure its relevance to the intended audience, among other requirements.

CFTC Commissioner Advocates for Limited Pilot Program in U.S. Crypto Regulation

Caroline Pham, a member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has proposed the creation of a time-limited pilot program aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies and supporting the development of compliant digital asset markets and tokenization in the United States. Pham, who holds one of the Republican seats on the five-person commission, made these recommendations during a Cato Institute event.

FDIC Acknowledges Oversight Failures in Handling First Republic Bank's Collapse

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has publicly admitted to shortcomings in its oversight of First Republic Bank, the regional lender that collapsed and was subsequently acquired by JPMorgan Chase in May. In a comprehensive 62-page review, the regulator conceded that its supervisors could have taken more proactive measures to address factors that left First Republic vulnerable to severe contagion effects, such as its high level of uninsured deposits and exposure to rising interest rates.

UK Financial Regulator Takes Tough Stance on Bank Risk Controls Amid Economic Challenges

The United Kingdom's financial regulator has issued a stern warning to the country's largest banks, urging them not to compromise their risk controls in the face of challenging economic conditions and other external pressures. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has declared its intention to intensify oversight efforts in response to potential risks that could emerge if banks prioritize short-term revenue over regulatory obligations.

Swiss Inquiry Reveals Scope of Credit Suisse Post-Mortem Investigation

Switzerland has unveiled unprecedented insights into its inquiry process concerning the downfall of Credit Suisse, shedding light on the highly secretive procedures that will examine the actions of state bodies dating back to 2015. Credit Suisse, once the nation's second-largest bank, endured a series of scandals and losses, culminating in its state-engineered takeover by UBS in March.