The recent halving of settlement times in North American markets has led to a counterintuitive improvement in trade success rates, according to Patrick Colle, BNP Paribas head of securities services. Colle, on a visit to Australia last week, said the move to T+1 settlement times in the US, Canadian and Mexican markets at the end… [Read More…]
Central banks reach for digital currency on-switch
Almost all central banks are toying with digital currencies in response to crypto-challengers and technological developments, a new survey has found. However, the latest Bank of International Settlements (BIS) poll of 86 monetary authorities suggests wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDC) will likely arrive ahead of, limited, retail versions. “… the likelihood that a wholesale… [Read More…]
FMA v Booster headed for long court battle
Booster and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) are lawyering-up for what could be a multi-year legal battle after the regulator laid serious civil charges against the Wellington-headquartered firm last week. The FMA is seeking “declarations of contravention, pecuniary penalties” and “an inquiry into damages” over 75 alleged governance breaches surrounding the Booster Tahi private wine… [Read More…]
‘They’re going ballistic’: AMP slashes redundancy benefits across business
AMP has slashed redundancy pay maximums and notice periods across its business with a new policy that has put management on the defence and left staff deeply dissatisfied. Under the new policy, the minimum notice period has changed from eight weeks to six; the age supplement for staff over the age of 45 has been… [Read More…]
PIE cuts on table, finlaw desk-work piles up…
Government could include a PIE surprise in a planned August ‘omnibus’ tax bill, according to DLA Piper partner, David Johnston. Johnston told a DLA Piper industry gathering last week that officials were mulling changes to the portfolio investment entity (PIE) tax settings that would be included along with any KiwiSaver amendments in the August legislation…. [Read More…]
… as super lawyer McBeth stands aside
Pioneering NZ superannuation and investments legal specialist, Alasdair McBeth, has stepped down as DLA Piper partner after more than 45 years in the Wellington-based practice. McBeth joined what was then known as Phillips Shayle George in 1978 as a law clerk, rising to partner ranks the following decade while the business itself morphed through various… [Read More…]
Become rehomes $65m with Consilium; AMP to do TDs
Auckland-headquartered financial advisory business, Become Wealth, has consolidated its investment administration on the Consilium wrap platform after shifting about $65 million from rival services this month. Following the move, largely from the ANZ OneAnswer platform, Become – previously known as Milestone Direct – has more than $90 million with Consilium across its wrap, Evidential funds… [Read More…]
Single going steady: retirement review backs one-KiwiSaver system
The Retirement Commission has cast doubt on a signal National pre-election policy after backing the current one-KiwiSaver-per-member regime. In a KiwiSaver review published last week, the Retirement Commission urged the government to retain the successful, simple single-scheme approach in line with OECD recommendations. The report notes that jurisdictions featuring multi-scheme membership of employment-based savings programs… [Read More…]
Pushing the frontiers of finance 3: building better with blockchain
In the final installment of his tokenisation trilogy, NZ fintech leader, Binu Paul, outlines how businesses can move from blockchain dreams to real-life solutions… Blockchain technology has often been labelled as a ‘solution looking for a problem’. Despite such scepticism, however, the potential of blockchain-based asset tokenisation to transform the financial services sector remains… [Read More…]
Regulator to clamp down on leverage, suitability in derivative move; offers help for small COFI-takers
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has moved to rein-in retail derivative products and ease conduct-licensing concerns for smaller financial firms during a busy week for the regulator. Retail bets on derivative products such as contracts-for-difference (CFDs) would face tight leverage constraints and tough new suitability rules under the FMA proposals. Currently, licensed retail derivative operators… [Read More…]