News from the economy, politics and the financial markets
In this section of our news section we provide you with editorial content from leading publishers.
Latest news
From Data Centers to Offices, Commercial Real Estate Momentum Picks Up
Signs of strength emerge across commercial real estate asset classes prior to Goodwin’s annual 2026 RECM Conference....By: Goodwin
Playing by new rules: AUSTRAC’s growing reach in 2026
Over the past year, AUSTRAC has been busy on several fronts (making good use of its largest budget and staffing numbers to date). Key areas of focus have included: • finalising, and preparing industry for, the suite of regulatory reforms that are being introduced through the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (Amended AML/CTF Act) and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025 (New Rules); • releasing a suite of guidance notes in...By: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
CFIUS Seeks Input for Known Investor Program and Feedback on Broader Process
On February 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) published a Request for Information (RFI), seeking public input on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’s (CFIUS) proposed Known Investor Program (KIP) and broader ways to streamline or simplify its review process. Treasury indicates......By: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
FCA Studying Impact of AI On Financial Services
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched the Mills review and a call for input on the long‑term impact of advanced AI on retail financial services, looking to 2030 and beyond....By: Ropes & Gray LLP
SEC and CFTC Relaunch “Project Crypto” as Joint Harmonization Initiative
On January 29, the SEC and the CFTC unveiled the relaunch of “Project Crypto,” positioning the initiative as a coordinated interagency effort to prepare for forthcoming federal digital asset market structure legislation and to address longstanding jurisdictional fragmentation between the agencies....By: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity Deal Tracker: Ares and DaVita to Invest in Elara Caring
Ares’ Private Equity Group (Ares) and DaVita will make a strategic investment in Elara Caring, according to a news release. Elara, founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, is a provider of home care, offering skilled home health, hospice, personal care services, behavioral health and palliative care in 18 states....By: McGuireWoods LLP
Bermuda Proposes New Parametric Special Purpose Insurance Class
On 21 January 2026, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) released a consultation paper (Consultation Paper) proposing the introduction of a new category of special purpose insurance called the parametric special purpose insurance (PSPI) class....By: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Bermuda’s New Beneficial Ownership Regime: Key Takeaways From the Captive Education Summit
Jennifer Panchaud, Director and Head of Conyers’ Bermuda Regulatory and Risk Advisory Team, and Associate Jacari Brimmer-Landy recently spoke at the Bermuda Captive Network’s 2026 Captive Education Summit on The Beneficial Ownership Act 2025 (the “Act”) and Bermuda’s new Beneficial Ownership Regime....By: Conyers
CFPB Signals Sharp Reduction in Oversight Amid Shift to Virtual Exams
According to news reports, on January 29, senior officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced internally that the agency will significantly reduce its supervisory examinations and conduct all reviews virtually. The changes affect banks, fintech companies, debt collectors, consumer reporting agencies, and other entities supervised under the Dodd-Frank Act....By: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Senators urge OCC and FDIC to withdraw proposed rule redefining ‘unsafe or unsound’ practices
On February 5, a coalition of Democratic senators published a letter sent to the FDIC and OCC, requesting that the agencies withdraw a proposed rule redefining “unsafe or unsound practice” for banks. According to the senators, the proposed redefinition would limit the agencies’ ability to take enforcement actions against banks that engage in risky conduct and could restrict supervisors from identifying and communicating risks early....By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
OCC releases CRA evaluations for January 2026
On February 2, the OCC released its CRA performance evaluations for 29 national banks and federal savings associations, assessing how well these institutions met the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods....By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Corporate Crime 360: Your complete guide to APAC trends in 2026
Welcome to the HSF Kramer White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Outlook 2026: Trends in APAC - The risk landscape confronting corporates continues to shift quickly, shaped by geopolitical volatility, ongoing legal reform and common themes in the regulatory trajectory across borders. In this environment, businesses face heightened expectations to detect, prevent and respond to misconduct—while managing complex overlaps across sanctions, anti bribery, anti money laundering, anti fraud,...By: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
EBA Issues Supervisory Priorities as PSD2–MiCA Transition Period for EMT Activities Ends
In accordance with a 12 February European Banking Authority opinion, as of 2 March 2026 electronic money token transactions that qualify as payment services must be fully compliant with PSD2, otherwise they will be subject to business cessation measures and customer offboarding....By: Morgan Lewis
NCUA extends loan interest rate ceiling for federal credit unions
On February 6, the NCUA announced that it issued a letter extending the temporary 18-percent interest rate ceiling for loans made by federal credit unions through September 10, 2027, after determining that money market interest rates had risen over the preceding six months and that prevailing rates threatened the safety and soundness of individual credit unions based on “adverse trends in liquidity, capital, earnings, and growth.”...By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Federal Court Issues Mixed Decision on Illinois Interchange Fee Law
On February 10, Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order resolving cross-motions for summary judgment concerning the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The court granted a permanent injunction blocking enforcement of the Act’s data usage limitation, while allowing the interchange fee restriction to take effect July 1, 2026....By: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Small Business Administration announces alternative base rate options for 7(a) loan program
On February 6, the Small Business Administration (SBA) published a procedural notice, followed by a notification in the Federal Register on February 10, announcing alternative base rate options for variable interest rate loans under the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Program....By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Appointed representatives: UK government consults on proposals for reform
In line with the approach in the UK government’s March 2025 Regulation Action Plan, it has published a consultation setting out detailed proposals for the reform of the UK regime on appointed representatives (ARs)....By: Hogan Lovells
Tokenized Securities Under the Microscope: What Companies Should Know After the SEC’s Clarification
On January 28, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, Division of Investment Management and Division of Trading and Markets issued a Statement on Tokenized Securities that provides additional clarity regarding the treatment of tokenized securities under the U.S. federal securities laws....By: Fenwick & West LLP
OFAC launches voluntary self-disclosure portal for potential sanctions violations
On February 6, OFAC announced the launch of an online Voluntary Self-Disclosure Portal. According to the announcement, the new portal is intended to streamline and secure the process for submitting voluntary self-disclosures of potential sanctions violations, offering faster acknowledgment and clearer communication for filers....By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
IOSCO Reports on Pre-Hedging and Financial Asset Tokenization
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) plays a central role in shaping the global regulatory landscape for financial market regulation. IOSCO reports have significant implications for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), its registrants and the markets it oversees, as they provide frameworks and guidance that inform US regulatory policy and practices. Oftentimes, IOSCO reports are the precursor to CFTC regulatory action, or signal future regulatory trends in...By: WilmerHale
Showing 1 to 20 of 3925 entries
