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☆ Global watchdog reveals tensions at heart of Credit Suisse debacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. The report, however, exposed tensions and conflicts at the heart of a process that ultimately required Switzerland to initially back the emergency rescue of Credit Suisse by rival UBS (UBSG.S) with public money to avert panic. The officials summed up that the "resolution" rules for shutting a collapsing bank without panicking markets could have worked for Credit Suisse, though public money would still likely have been needed. The FSB report sheds new light on events that led to Credit Suisse's downfall. The FSB said Switzerland's action preserved financial stability, even if it raised questions as to why the resolution was not chosen.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Karin Keller, Sutter, Switzerland's Keller, FINMA, Andrew Bailey, Arturo Bris, Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Arthur Wilmarth, it’s, Tatiana Bautzer, Elisa Martinuzzi, Stefania Spezzati, Pete Schroeder, Mark Potter, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, UBS Group, Swiss, U.S, Bank of England, IMD, Bank, MRV Associates, Banco, George Washington University Law School, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Switzerland, Swiss, U.S

Signage for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Britain's financial regulatory body, is seen at their head offices in London, Britain March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Britain's financial regulator on Tuesday said it was stopping peer-to-peer platform rebuildingsociety.com from approving financial promotions for Binance and other crypto asset firms, days after Binance announced it had partnered with the company. A Binance spokesperson via email on Tuesday said that the company had invested "an enormous amount of time and resources" in ensuring that it is compliant with the Financial Conduct Authority's rules. "We shared our agreement with Rebuildingsociety.com with the FCA on Oct. 2, almost a full week before the requirements of the updated Financial Promotions Regime came into effect," the Binance spokesperson said. Under the FCA's rules, a firm it has authorised can approve promotions of companies it does not regulate, a system that is being tightened from February by the watchdog.

Persons: Toby Melville, Binance, Elizabeth Howcroft, Huw Jones, Mark Porter Organizations: Financial, Authority, REUTERS, FCA, Rebuildingsociety.com, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, cryptoassets, Leeds, UK

☆ UK finance professionals urged to sign diversity code
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The CFA Institute has 200,000 members globally, with about 12,000 in Britain. Signatories to the code will provide a confidential, annual progress report to the CFA Institute, which will report industry-wide figures once a critical mass of signatories is reached. It comes on top of initiatives such as the Women in Finance charter backed by the finance ministry, which are well established and supported, although progress has been uneven. "The regulator sets the mandatory baseline, we can look to aspirational goals," said Sarah Maynard, global senior head, external diversity, equity and inclusion, at the CFA Institute. Given the global nature of finance, the CFA is also looking at how the code can help join up different national initiatives.

Persons: Toby Melville, Sarah Maynard, Maynard, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Companies CFA, CFA Institute, CFA, Women, Finance, Britain's, Authority, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, United States, Canada

[1/2] Chairman Anthony Thomson (L) and Vice Chairman Vernon Hill pose with a dog outside the first branch of Metro Bank in Holborn in central London July 29, 2010. Metro declined to comment on Tuesday. A Starling spokesperson said the lender was making inroads into the big banks' market dominance. Metro is not the only smaller bank to have faced problems. One option is for smaller banks to gain scale through mergers and acquisitions.

Persons: Anthony Thomson, Vernon Hill, Toby Melville, John Cronin, Caius Capital, Monzo, Starling, We've, Morgan Stanley, Gary Greenwood, Rupak Ghose, Shore Capital's Greenwood, Ghose, Shawbrook, Jaime Gilinski, Dorita, Iain Withers, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Anousha Sakoui, Huw Jones, Amy, Jo Crowley, Sinead Cruise, Chiara Elisei, Alexander Smith Organizations: Metro Bank, REUTERS, Yorkshire, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Metro, Caius, Varde Partners, Finance, Bank of England, London Stock Exchange, The Bank of England, Prudential, Authority, Shore Capital, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Shore, Financial, Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Holborn, London, Starling, Metro, Colombian

Persons: Anthony Thomson, Vernon Hill, Toby Melville, John Cronin, Caius Capital, Jaime Gilinski, Dorita, Gilinski, Monzo, Starling, We've, Morgan Stanley, Gary Greenwood, Rupak Ghose, Shore Capital's Greenwood, Ghose, Shawbrook, Iain Withers, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Anousha Sakoui, Huw Jones, Amy, Jo Crowley, Sinead Cruise, Chiara Elisei, Nelson Bocanegra, Alexander Smith, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Metro Bank, REUTERS, Yorkshire, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Metro, Caius, Varde Partners, Harvard, Forbes, Finance, Bank of England, London Stock Exchange, The Bank of England, Prudential, Authority, Shore Capital, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Shore, Financial, Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Holborn, London, BOGOTA, Starling, Colombian, Latin America, Metro, Bogota

LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Embattled British bank Metro (MTRO.L) announced a 325 million pound ($396.5 million) capital raise and 600 million pound debt refinancing on Sunday, after a weekend of urgent talks to bolster its balance sheet after a volatile week of trading. Metro Bank had sought to shore up its finances after a string of setbacks in recent years, including accounting errors, leadership departures and delayed regulatory approval for key capital reliefs. The equity raise was led by Metro's largest shareholder, Gilinski-owned Spaldy Investments, which contributed 102 million pounds. The Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority said in a statement: "The Prudential Regulation Authority welcomes the steps taken by Metro Bank to strengthen its capital position." Reuters reported on Friday that Metro Bank was set to discuss funding options with its shareholders over the weekend, after a proposal from bondholders earlier in the week was seen as handing over too much control.

Persons: Jaime Gilinski, Gilinski, Iain Withers, Anousha, Huw Jones, Pablo Mayo Cerquerio, Londo, Lavanya, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Metro, Metro Bank, Metro's, Spaldy Investments, of England's Prudential, Authority, Prudential, HSBC, Lloyds, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Colombian, London, Bengaluru

☆ Investors hope U.S. job numbers give Fed less reason to hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Although the MSCI All-Country stock index (.MIWD00000PUS) was 0.2% higher, it has lost about 8% since its July peak, leaving it about 7% ahead for the year. We are talking about the duration, rather than higher rates," Spencer said. The dollar index is up 12 weeks in a row, equalling a streak that ran from July to October 2014. The dollar index was steady on Friday at 106.38. Gold was also steady at $1,821 an ounce after nine days of losses driven by rising global bond yields.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Nonfarm, Patrick Spencer, RW Baird, Spencer, YEN, Kyle Rodda, Huw Jones, Tom Westbrook, Shri Navaratnam, Clarence Fernandez, Chizu Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Federal, Treasury, Global, Analysts, Tokyo's Nikkei, London, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Analysis: When, not if, Europe copies Wall Street share trading reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. A shorter settlement time might increase efficiency, cut collateral needs, and "increase the competitiveness and the attractiveness of EU financial markets", ESMA said. ESMA is seeking views for a cost/benefit analysis of moving to at least T+1, though few believe it will not go ahead given advances in technology, regulatory pressure, and gravitational pull of Wall Street. EFAMA, a European funds industry body, says the move on Wall Street will require changes to existing IT systems for European firms and U.S. investors who trade European shares. There is already talk of moving to the next stage after T+1: instant or simultaneous settlement.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, ESMA, Pete Tomlinson, Richard Knox, Charlie Geffen, Geffen, AFME's Tomlinson, Huw Jones, Alison Williams Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, European, EU, U.S, Federal Reserve, Association for Financial Markets, Bankers, SWIFT Institute, CLS, Financial, UK, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, European Union, Britain, Switzerland, Europe, United States, Canada, London, Brussels, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mainland China

☆ Consumer finance group seeks more privacy in digital euro use
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sculpture of Euro symbol is pictured in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, May 2, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Tougher privacy safeguards are needed for using a digital euro online, consumer lobby Finance Watch said on Tuesday, in the latest sign of mounting "Big Brother" concerns policymakers are having to confront. Finance Watch said it accepted that some concessions would have to be made to ensure a digital euro is not used for money-laundering, making full, cash-like anonymity of digital payments difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, as drafted, the proposed EU law gives higher levels of privacy to offline use of a digital euro stored in a customers "wallet", Finance Watch said. "While the proposed approach to offline transactions goes a long way towards offering cash-like privacy, a higher level of privacy and data protection should also be applied to small, low-value online transactions," Finance Watch said.

Persons: Francois Lenoir, Mairead McGuinness, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Finance, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Commission, Finance Watch, Big Tech, EU, The Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, EU

☆ New York remains top financial centre, London clings to second place - survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The Wall Street sign is pictured at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - New York has easily remained the world's top financial centre with London still second and gaining some ground, but also facing a tougher fight with Singapore and Hong Kong, the Global Financial Centres index showed on Thursday. Singapore, however, is now only 2 points behind London at 742, itself only a point ahead of Hong Kong in fourth place, signalling an intensifying battle for the second spot. The index is compiled every six months by London-based think tank Z/Yen and the China Development Institute. Reporting by Huw Jones Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, London, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Global, ., World Bank, OECD, United Nations, Arm Holdings, London, China Development Institute, New, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, . New York, San Francisco

☆ Britain to ease capital rules for retail banks to boost competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Britain's finance ministry, which is seeking to boost competition in the banking sector, on Thursday proposed legislation to ease rules that require banks to "ring-fence" their retail arms with a cushion of capital. The draft legislation proposes to increase the threshold at which ring-fencing applies to banks from 25 billion pounds ($30.31 billion) to 35 billion pounds. Britain introduced the ring-fencing rule in January 2019 following the costly taxpayer bail-outs of banks during the global financial crisis over a decade ago. "It will improve outcomes for banks and their customers, increase competition and improve the competitiveness of the UK banking sector," Griffith said. Another change would allow ring-fenced banks to set up entities outside Britain to compete with international and domestic banking groups.

Persons: Keith Skeoch, Andrew Griffith, Griffith, Banks, Huw Jones, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ Banks in EU largely comply with 'Basel Endgame', says watchdog
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The global Basel Committee agreed additional capital rules in 2017 that require banks to hold bigger reserves to shield them from potential shocks. The EU, along with Britain and the United States, is now putting the final Basel requirements into its rule books. Basel has a 2028 deadline for implementing its remaining rules, which are set to be rolled out in the EU from January 2025. The BoE is due to set out its final Basel Endgame rules sometime in 2024. The aggregate shortfalls globally and in the EU represent a fraction of banks' total capital buffers and earnings.

Persons: Arnd, BoE, Huw Jones, Jacqueline Wong, Jane Merriman Organizations: Bank for International Settlements, REUTERS, Union, Basel, European Banking Authority, Basel III, United, Bank of England, EU, Committee, Thomson Locations: Basel, Switzerland, EU, Britain, United States, Banks

☆ Britain grapples for agreement over listing rules overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Britain's financial regulatory body, is seen at its head office in London, Britain, March 10, 2022. The decision by UK chip designer Arm Holdings to list in the United States triggered calls in Britain to make London more attractive as a listings destination by easing the rules. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed combining its "premium" and "standard" listing categories, and ease other listing requirements such a requirement for a detailed financial track record, prompting sharp criticism from shareholder groups. The new rules would be confirmed before the end of this year, which the FCA would seek to implement speedily, Pritchard said. Julia Hoggett, CEO of London Stock Exchange, said London was already an attractive listings venue, and "narratives" that keep it down needed challenging.

Persons: Toby Melville, Sarah Pritchard, Pritchard, Julia Hoggett, Hoggett, Huw Jones, Alex Richardson Organizations: Financial, Authority, REUTERS, Arm Holdings, Financial Conduct Authority, London Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New York, United, United States

The forecasts seem at odds as higher rates raise the credit costs that can crimp the economy. MSCI's U.S.-centric gauge of global equity performance and stocks on Wall Street bounced back while Treasury yields, which move inversely to price, retreated. Yields on two- and 10-year notes remained inverted at -68.3 basis points as the shorter-dated note yields more than the longer one. MSCI's all-world country index for stocks (.MIWD00000PUS) gained 0.14%, but the pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) closed down 0.31%. Oil prices rose as renewed global supply concerns from Russia's fuel export ban countered demand fears driven by macroeconomic headwinds and higher interest rates.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Marvin Loh, Joe LaVorgna, SMBC, Brent, Craig Ebert, Huw Jones, Tom Westbrook, Marguerita Choy, Rashmi Aich, Aurora Ellis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Bank, Japan, Treasury, Federal, Fed, U.S, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Bank of, Japan's Nikkei, Investors, Bank of England, Swiss, Swiss National Bank, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Boston, New York, Asia, Japan, China, Sweden, Norway, BNZ, Wellington

Yet higher rates typically crimp bank loans and raise the cost of credit. MSCI's U.S.-centric gauge of global equity performance and stocks on Wall Street bounced back while the dollar and Treasury yields, which move inversely to price, retreated. The initial reassessment of the Fed's higher-for-longer policy drove the rise in Treasury yields and created headwinds for risk assets, including equities, credit and emerging markets, but supported the dollar. MSCI's all-world country index for stocks (.MIWD00000PUS) gained 0.37%, but the pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.39%. In emerging markets, Indian bonds and the rupee rallied after JPMorgan said it would add Indian debt to its widely tracked emerging markets index, setting the stage for billions of dollars in foreign inflows.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Marvin Loh, Brent, Craig Ebert, Huw Jones, Tom Westbrook, Marguerita Choy, Rashmi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Bank, Japan, U.S, Treasury, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Bank of, Japan's Nikkei, Investors, Bank of England, Swiss, Swiss National Bank, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, U.S . Federal, Boston, Asia, Japan, China, Sweden, Norway, BNZ, Wellington

☆ Stocks stall, yields climb on "higher for longer" rate worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. stock futures , , were slightly firmer ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street, signalling a pause after sharp losses on Thursday amid uncertainty over interest rates going into 2024. Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields hit a 16-year high of 4.508%, later trading at 4.48%, while 30-year yields hit their highest in a dozen years. The Fed revised downwards its unemployment rate forecast for next year, and if the U.S. economic data continued to improve, it would put "upside risk" on interest rates, making the need for a soft landing all the greater, Osman added. Ten-year Japanese government bond futures rallied though cash yields were little changed and near decade highs at 0.745%. Gold firmed 0.3% to $1,925 an ounce despite pressure from the stronger dollar and bond yields.

Persons: what's, Eren Osman, Arbuthnot Latham, Osman, Mary Daly, Neel Kashkari, Susan Collins, Lisa Cook, Craig Ebert, Huw Jones, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann, Kim Coghill, Rashmi Organizations: Bank of Japan, Global, Nasdaq, Treasury, ING, Bank of, Japan's Nikkei, Investors, Bank of England, Swiss, Swiss National Bank, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S, Asia, Japan, China, Sweden, Norway, BNZ, Wellington

☆ Georgia looking to cause an upset at the Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jack Hillcox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today, Maisashvili is in France leading Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Having lost 35-15 against Australia in its Rugby World Cup opener, Georgia hopes to bounce back against Portugal this Saturday, then against Fiji and Wales in its final pool C game. David Mdzinarishvili/ReutersThe Georgian national rugby team was formed in 1964, but was initially subsumed by the Soviet Union rugby federation. Despite making up a tiny portion of the Soviet Union, Georgian players were one of the dominant forces in the larger nation’s rugby team. The nation’s rugby team suffered after gaining independence, leading to serious lack of resources.

Persons: CNN — “, ” Levan Maisashvili, Maisashvili, Levan Maisashvili, Georgia's, Levan Verdzeuli, Nika Abuladze –, David Mdzinarishvili, ” Tony Collins, Huw Richards ’, Collins, “, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Forbes, ” Maisashvili, ”, Warren Little Organizations: CNN, rugby, Italy, –, Georgian, CNN Sport, ” Rugby, Scotland, Australia, Rugby World, Portugal, Fiji, Humble, Georgian national rugby team, Soviet Union rugby, Soviet Union, Soviet national, Institute of Sports Humanities, Rugby, Reuters, Nations, Northern Hemisphere, Rugby Championship, Southern Hemisphere Locations: South Africa, Wales, France, Georgia, Shukhuti, Soviet, Georgian, “ Georgia, Fiji, Toulouse

☆ Reactions: Bank of England bashes pound after halting rate rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

A pedestrian carrying an umbrella walks near the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, July 30, 2023. Investors had already rushed on Wednesday to reel in their bets on further UK rate rises after data showed UK inflation cooled surprisingly quickly in August. Against the euro , the pound was down 0.5% at 86.74 pence, having traded around 86.70 pence before the decision. "The MPC still refers to its flexibility to react should things change, but the chances are this could be the peak in this UK interest rate cycle." "However, there is a risk that the ‘lag effect’ on interest rate hikes means that today’s decision may not be felt for another 9 to 12 months."

Persons: Hollie Adams, Sterling, THOMAS, Huw Pill's, HUGH GIMBER, PHILIP SHAW, DOUGLAS GRANT, JEREMY BATSTONE, CARR, RAYMOND JAMES, FRANCES HAQUE, JOE TUCKEY, RICHARD GARLAND, GILES COGHLAN, BoE, stagflation, Amanda Cooper, Dhara Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, London, Investors, Bank of, Bank, MPC, SANTANDER, LONDON, Core CPI, PMI, CPI, EMEA, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, London, MANX, EUROPEAN, FRANCE, GROUP, OXFORDSHIRE

The Viking Star cruise ship is moored at Greenwich with the City of London financial district in the distance, in London, Britain, August 29, 2023. It is absolutely the time for action over words," Alasdair Haynes, CEO of Aquis Exchange, a share trading platform, and chair of financial industry body TheCityUK's Business Council, told Reuters. The main problem for trade bodies is the vast scope of Britain's financial services industry, with each sub-sector and TheCityUK presenting their own reform priorities and ideas, often overlapping. In the meantime, top financial sector executives running global teams of bankers and traders are increasingly bewildered by Britain's inability to make faster progress on a matter of such economic significance. ELECTION LOOMINGSome senior financial industry sources say politics may hamper the City's reform agenda even further, with a general election expected next year.

Persons: Kevin Coombs, Alasdair Haynes, Jeremy Hunt, Nicholas Lyons, TheCityUK, ” Samuel Gregg, Richard Gardner, Huw Jones, Sinead Cruise, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Viking, City, REUTERS, London’s, Mayor, European Union, Aquis, Business, Reuters, Finance, stoke, of, Arm Holdings, Labour, Conservative, American Institute for Economic Research, Investment Funds Association, EU, Thomson Locations: Greenwich, London, Britain, Europe, Asia, United States, Edinburgh, of London, New York, Amsterdam, City, France

☆ EU watchdog scrutinises banks' defences after SVB, Credit Suisse woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Recent banking crises in the United States, where Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, and in Switzerland where UBS was forced to acquire Credit Suisse, show that banks and regulators need to increase preparedness for rapidly unfolding crises, the Single Resolution Board (SRB) said. Forcing banks in the EU's banking union to have minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) was a lesson from the 2008 global financial crisis where taxpayers had to bail out banks. MREL debt is written down in a crisis to "bail in" the bank and help stop it from being "too big to fail". The SRB, which sets MREL targets, said that by the end of 2022, two-thirds of banks met their final target. Evaporating liquidity was a hallmark of recent banking turmoil and is being scrutinised in resolution plans of banks.

Persons: Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: Silicon, Silicon Valley Bank, UBS, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: European, United States, Silicon Valley, Switzerland

☆ Ukraine's army keeps outsmarting Russia on the battlefield, with cunning ruses and opportunistic attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Tom Porter | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"Deception has succeeded against Russian forces at all echelons and across all three service branches," the report said. A Russian drone had earlier damaged a tank there, and Afanasyev wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe company says over 250 of these decoys have so far been handed over to the Ukrainian military. In eastern Ukraine's Popasna, a base used by the mercenary pro-Russian Wagner Group was bombed to rubble by Ukrainian troops in April 2022. Ukraine's 110th brigade then "worked effectively to attack the Russian soldiers," he said.

Persons: it's, Ivan Oleksii, Oleksii, Cmdr, Oleksandr Afanasyev, Afanasyev, Vladimir Solovyov, Wagner, Igor Russak, Ukraine's, Huw Dylan, David Gioe, Joe Littell Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Russian, Getty, Kremlin, Wagner, Russian Wagner, Wired, Purpose, Center for Information Resilience, 25th Airborne Brigade, Modern War Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Russian, Kyiv, Makiivka, Lyman, Donetsk, St Petersburg, Ukraine's, Avdiyivka, Europe, Izium, Kharkiv, Kherson

☆ EU states consider easing post-Brexit derivatives clearing plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But the Spanish EU presidency wants to water this down. Under the draft law, EU securities watchdog ESMA would determine minimum clearing thresholds. The European Parliament is also finalising its own position, before it meets with EU states to thrash out a final text. EU clearing customers "shall clear at least proportions" of euro derivatives in an active account, the compromises say, specifying no minimum clearing figure from the outset. If not enough clearing is being done in the EU within 18 months, ESMA should specify the proportion of clearing that each customer must undertake through their EU accounts, the compromises say.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lawmakers, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Boerse's Eurex, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Britain, London, Frankfurt, Spanish, EU

☆ Global watchdog tackles 'vulnerabilities' in leveraged loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Global securities regulators have proposed tightening how the leveraged loan market operates to tackle "vulnerabilities" after a prolonged period of low interest rates led to deteriorating standards. Leveraged loans are loans extended to companies that already have high debt, and therefore are at a higher risk of default. Global securities watchdog IOSCO said it had identified "some vulnerabilities in the leveraged loan and collateralized loan obligation markets which may be exacerbated by the behavior of certain participants and market practices." Covenant-lite loans now make up 90% of the leveraged loan market, up from just 1% in 2000, IOSCO said in a public consultation paper on its proposed new guidance. U.S. companies have raised more money in private markets than in public markets in each year since 2009, it added.

Persons: IOSCO, Huw Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: Global, Investors, Thomson

☆ Turmoil showed top level failures at banks, global watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - This year's bank turmoil showed some boards and senior management failed in their most basic responsibilities and more regulatory guidance may be needed, a global watchdog said. Pablo Hernandez de Cos, chair of the Basel Committee, said on Thursday that the turmoil highlighted many shortcomings. The Basel Committee writes capital rules for banks, determining how much they need to set aside in case they get into difficulty. Most of the banks that failed during the turmoil were not subject to Basel's standards, said de Cos, who is also governor of the Bank of Spain. Basel may also consider how national regulators decide to exempt a bank with cross-border features from the committee's standards, de Cos said.

Persons: Brittany Hosea, Pablo Hernandez de Cos, de Cos, Cos, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: Bank, REUTERS, Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank, Basel Committee, Committee, Bank of Spain, Banking, Thomson Locations: Santa Clara , California, U.S, Basel

☆ Bank of England tells UK to hold insurers to account on infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of the Bank of England (BoE) building, the BoE confirmed to raise interest rates to 1.75%, in London, Britain, August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Bank Of England FollowLONDON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The government should check that insurers are spending up to 100 billion pounds ($125 billion) on Britain's economy after their capital rules were eased, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods said on Wednesday. "I think it may happen, but I can't guarantee it," Woods told a sub-committee of parliament's Treasury Select Committee. The finance ministry overrode the Bank of England to ease some capital rules more than Woods had wanted, which could make an insurance company failure more likely. This means insurers will have more money to invest, currently only a modest part of their portfolios is in infrastructure, Gerken said.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, Sam Woods, Woods, Charlotte Gerken, Gerken, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Bank, Association of, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

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