Institutions battling insider trading
Market firms are at the frontline of the regulatory battle now being waged by the Financial Services Authority and other enforcement agencies against insider trading. The campaign indicated a growing strictness against the offence, as the agency unsuccessfully attempted to fight off government demands for its closure. Sources in the …
New start for UK fraud
The UK is set to embark on the most radical overhaul of its system for investigating and prosecuting white collar crime for a hundred years. The outcome of a consultation process, launched at the end of July, is likely to be the unification of a plethora of intelligence, investigatory and …
FSA raises fear levels on fines
The record breaking fine of £33,000,000 levied against JP Morgan by the FSA last year for failing to properly segregate client-money sent out an unambiguous message: the FSA’s Enforcement Division was determined to clamp down on regulatory breach and market abuse and to stiffen up changes in the City self-regulation. …
Ratings agencies
Of all the dogs that failed to bark when the financial crisis loomed, credit rating agencies (CRAs) were the most notorious. Nicholas Kochan reports on the measures being introduced by global financial centres and regulators to improve their reliability and transparency. Tight regulation for credit ratings agencies (CRAs) is now …
Interview with Xavier Rolet
Xavier Rolet, the chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, believes the Armagedon of economic meltdown has probably been avoided. Now is the time to look at the fundamental causes of the crisis, in particular regulation and the costs of trading and clearing. How do you assess the causes and …
Kochan on regulation
Regulators in overdrive When bankers hold meetings to discuss their internal regulations today, it is likely that someone will be at the table, silently making notes. He may not have a name badge or reveal his employer, but he will be treated with deference. For this will be the institution’s …
Inadequate info sharing is hampering AML investigations, says NCA’s Toon
Slow and inadequate sharing of information between financial intelligence units worldwide is undermining money laundering investigations, said Donald Toon, head of the Economic Crime Command and the Cyber Crime Unit at the National Crime Agency. Toon said new powers contained in the Criminal Finances Bill would make it easier for …
Facial recognition software may aid banks in AML/fraud fight
Video evidence can be a powerful tool but banks have yet to acquire the technology to apply it to their anti-fraud systems, according to Facewatch. The company is using facial recognition software to help firms make better use of video and CCTV systems. Banks’ failure to centralise their CCTV systems …
Dover 58
The streets of the UK are paved in gold. Its fields are paved with rich pickings. These illusory images of life in Britain are sold to the citizens of some of China’s more remote parts in an effort to persuade them to part with unimaginably large sums of money. Some …