The Commission has proposed an encompassing strategy to move towards EU industrial leadership in advanced materials, a key enabling technology highly relevant for the twin green and digital transition. The Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership puts forward concrete steps enabling to align research and innovation priorities and investments in the EU, ensuring European leadership in this key technology. This initiative, eagerly anticipated by the Member States and industry, is the first step towards a common European approach for advanced materials, laying the groundwork for further action. Advanced materials are intentionally designed and engineered materials to display superior performance or special functions, which can be developed with unprecedented speed thanks to today’s scientific understanding and computing power. They are fundamental for example for innovation in energy, electronics, construction and mobility, and therefore crucial for the green and digital transition. The first list of research areas is expected to be expanded overtime in dialogue with the Technology Council to be set-up. Continue reading…

The BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) have recently published the report “Streamlining variation margin in centrally cleared markets – examples of effective practices“, which sets out for consultation eight effective practices addressing variation margin (VM) processes and transparency between CCPs, clearing members and their clients. Interested parties are invited to comment on this report. The eight effective practices aim to provide examples of how standards set out in the PFMI and CCP resilience guidance can be met. They are intended to inform CCPs in designing their VM call and collection processes. Continue reading…

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has committed to carrying out enforcement cases more quickly as the organisation seeks to increase the deterrent impact of its enforcement actions. In the future the FCA will focus on a streamlined portfolio of cases, aligned to its strategic priorities where it can deliver the greatest impact. The FCA will also close those cases where no outcome is achievable, more quickly. As part of the new approach the FCA has begun a consultation on plans to be more transparent when an enforcement investigation is opened. Under the plans the FCA will publish updates on investigations as appropriate and be open about when cases have been closed with no enforcement outcome.
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by Elena Pykhova

This year’s view of the risk landscape from Best Practice Operational Risk Forum; members ranked top Operational risks in order of significance: Continue reading…

In a coordinated action supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities from 10 different countries have severely disrupted LockBit, the world’s most active ransomware operation. Two members of the ransomware team have been arrested in Poland and Ukraine. In addition, law enforcement has compromised LockBit’s primary platform and other enabling infrastructure. This includes the takedown of 34 servers in the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, France, Switzerland, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Continue reading…

by Olaf Sleijpen

One of the more fascinating concepts covered in economics courses is ‘ceteris paribus’ – Latin for ‘all other things being equal’. This concept allows us to investigate the causal and independent relationship between two variables, while all other variables remain unchanged. For instance, the relationship between interest rates and inflation. And so, ‘ceteris paribus’ offers a very simplified way to illustrate the core workings of a central bank. Or in central bank Latin, all other things considered equal, raising interest rates will lower inflation. And so, in theory, it is pretty straightforward how our primary policy tool helps to reach our primary objective – an inflation rate of around two percent in the medium term. This kind of central bank independence – the ‘ceteris paribus’ kind – does not exist outside the realm of theory, of course. The real world – the world central banks actually work in – is instead characterised by ‘mutatis mutandis’. Meaning that changing one variable will affect several others, and not per se only the one you wanted to affect. And meaning that this works both ways. And with a multitude of variables simultaneously. Hence, to achieve our primary objective, we are dependent on an ever-changing world. Sometimes things go well. At other times, risks arise that we need to carefully monitor. Continue reading…

by Melania Franzese & Giordano Di Veglia

The powerful acceleration of the dynamics linked to digital transformation has once again challenged the banks’ business models, forcing the supervisor to make a qualitative leap in analysing the business models and profitability in the banking strategic process. In this context, the ability of banks to adopt appropriate assessment methodologies for their business models is even more crucial. Continue reading…

The 17th NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum gathers international payment and RegTech experts in Zurich, the banking capital of the world! The 17th NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum takes place on 7-8 March 2024 at the Marriott Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, bringing together over 300 high-achieving specialists from world-leading companies in the regulatory and payments space to network and discuss the latest market trends in innovations, finance, technology, regulation, payments, and more. Continue reading…

On 15 February, Mr Mohammed Zina was found guilty of six offences of insider dealing and three offences of fraud following a 12-week trial at Southwark Crown Court brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Between 2014 and December 2017, Mohammed Zina worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs International. Through his role in the Conflicts Resolution Group, which he joined in 2016, he came into possession of inside information relating to potential mergers and acquisitions that his employer was advising on. 

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The Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group for the Middle East and North Africa (RCG MENA) met recently in Riyadh. The meeting, which was the group’s first in-person since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was hosted by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The FSB Chair, Klaas Knot, joined RCG members for the meeting. The group discussed global and regional financial stability vulnerabilities, including financial risks arising from the higher interest-rate environment and vulnerabilities in non-bank financial intermediation (NBFI). Continue reading…