The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) today launched a consultation on the revised joint guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders. The revised guidelines form part of a broader package designed to harmonise suitability assessments and ensure supervisory convergence across the EU. The consultation runs until 25 May 2026. The draft revised EBA-ESMA joint guidelines new requirements introduced by the revised Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) for large institutions, and include updates applying to entities covered by CRD and to investment firms within the scope of Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). Stemming from CRD, the updates cover, among other elements, the use of ex‑ante applications for cases where competent authorities carry out ex‑post assessments, and mandatory suitability assessments for roles such as heads of control functions and chief financial officers. The guidelines also further specify new CRD requirements for third‑country branches, and strengthen links with the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism framework, providing guidance for identifying reasonable grounds to suspect money laundering or terrorist financing risks. The revised guidelines introduce targeted simplification and streamlining measures designed to reduce administrative burden and provide greater flexibility and clarity for institutions and supervisors. Consultation process Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the revised joint EBA and ESMA Guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders using "send your comments" button on the EBA’s consultation page. The deadline for submitting comments is 25 May 2026. All contributions received will be published on the EBA’s website following the end of the consultation, unless requested otherwise. A public hearing on the guidelines will take place on 15 April 2026 from 14:00 to 15:30. The EBA is also consulting on its draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) specifying the documentation and information that large institutions should submit to competent authorities. Next steps Once the revised Guidelines enter into force, the 2021 Guidelines will be repealed. Respond Related Documents DateReferenceTitleDownloadSelect 25/02/2026 ESMA35-243228190-8034 Consultation paper on the joint ESMA and EBA guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders 25/02/2026 ESMA-EBA suitability guidelines Annex Consultation paper on the joint ESMA and EBA guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders - Annex 1 25/02/2026 ESMA-EBA suitability guidelines scope Scope of application - ESMA-EBA joint gudelines on suitability

Stability Matters Latest news from the FSB February 2026 Strategic review of FSB crisis preparedness activities The review aims to strengthen coordination and ensure the FSB’s approach to prepare for potential crises adapts to emerging vulnerabilities and structural changes in the financial system.   Thematic Peer Review on Public Sector Backstop Funding Mechanisms: Summary Terms of Reference Help us shape this peer review, which aims to assess progress and adherence to policies on establishing public sector backstop funding mechanisms, if needed as a last resort to achieve an orderly resolution. Regional Consultative Group for Sub-Saharan Africa meets in Zanzibar Our RCG for Sub-Saharan Africa met on 20-21 February in Zanzibar to discuss financial vulnerabilities, NBFI, debt and FX market strains, and AI. Nami Mukasa appointed as Head of Operations Nami joins us from the Federal Reserve Board and will be responsible for coordinating the operations of the FSB Secretariat.   FSB warns of financial stability challenges in repo markets Report highlights vulnerabilities within repo markets, potential contagion channels and emphasises the need to preserve their functionality during periods of stress. Recap   FSB Work Programme for 2026 “Sense and Sensibility” in nonbank regulation: a thoughtful approach to nonbank financial regulation – speech by John Schindler, FSB Secretary General, at the Stern School of Business, New York University. 2025 Resolution Report: “From Plans to Practice: Operationalising Resolution” Revised version of Good Practices for Crisis Management Groups   Upcoming   12 March: Cross-border Payments Summit 23 March: FSB Annual Report Meet the FSB Secretariat Shahzad Gitay Member of Secretariat Hi! I’m Shahzad Gitay, and I had the pleasure of joining the FSB Secretariat in 2024, from the Bank of England. At the FSB Secretariat, my main focus is on the analysis of potential vulnerabilities to financial stability under the Standing Committee on Assessment of Vulnerabilities (SCAV). Here, I lead the Secretariat coordination of one of SCAV’s technical sub-committees and contribute to the reports it produces; working closely with our members. Some of the recent topics we covered include Government Bond-backed Repo Markets, Private Credit, Non-bank Commercial Real Estate Investors. I was also involved in the FSB's Evaluation of Regulatory Securitisation Reforms. Seeing much this work published has been incredibly rewarding, and I’d definitely recommend giving it a read, starting with the Repo Markets report! Beyond this, I’ve really enjoyed getting involved in other areas of the FSB work. I support the FSB’s G20 coordination efforts, am contributing to our forthcoming report on sound practices for AI, and co-support the FSB’s Regional Consultative Group for the Middle East and North Africa. It is a fantastic experience to work on such a diverse range of topics with colleagues and FSB members from such diverse backgrounds and across the world. Tackling global issues together has been both challenging and inspiring, and I’m excited to see what lies ahead!

With GenAI deployment delivering measurable business results, financial services firms are doubling down on technology transformation and taking aim at the tokenization of market infrastructure. According to the sixth annual 2026 Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Technology Study from global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), leading financial services firms are moving beyond GenAI experimentation toward scaled execution, using agentic AI to drive immediate productivity gains while investing in distributed ledger and blockchain infrastructure that could fundamentally reshape financial markets. The global study, based on a survey of more than 900 financial services technology and operations leaders across wealth management, capital markets, and asset management, finds the industry at a pivotal moment: AI is becoming foundational to day-to-day operations, while tokenization represents the next wave of market evolution. “AI proved the industry can modernize at speed,” said Germán Soto Sanchez, Chief Product and Strategy Officer. “Tokenization is the next leap forward that will re-architect markets. Its clear financial services firms see tokenization is a long-term structural evolution to financial market infrastructure that delivers efficiency, transparency, and liquidity.” AI Moves from Pilots to Production AI adoption has accelerated dramatically over the past year. Eighty percent of firms report using generative or predictive AI in operations, up from 31% last year, reflecting a rapid move from pilot programs to enterprise deployment. AI is also viewed as delivering the greatest business impact among next-generation technologies, surpassing cloud. As confidence in returns grows, 72% of firms report making moderate to large GenAI investments, while concern about GenAI ROI has fallen to 33%, down from 42% a year ago. That shift is translating into results: 27% of firms report measurable business benefits from GenAI, a 13-point increase year over year, underscoring AI’s growing impact on productivity and operational efficiency. As generative AI matures, firms are beginning to deploy agentic AI—more autonomous systems capable of executing tasks and orchestrating workflows with limited human intervention. While still early, 26% of firms report current use of agentic AI, with more than half of those deployments already beyond pilot phases. Adoption is most advanced among large institutions, where nearly one-third of firms managing more than $250 billion in assets report active use. Tokenization Approaches an Inflection Point As AI becomes embedded in operating models, firms are turning their attention to longer-term structural change, reimagining how assets are issued, traded, and settled through tokenization. A majority of firms increasingly view tokenization as a structural evolution of market infrastructure rather than a near-term replacement for existing systems. While near-term adoption remains measured, confidence in blockchain and distributed ledger technology continues to rise with 53% of firms believing DLT will have a dramatic effect on the way assets are settled—underscoring growing conviction that next-generation infrastructure will reshape post-trade operations and core market infrastructure. That conviction is increasingly translating into capital commitments. More than half (54%) of firms report making moderate to large investments in tokenization and digital asset infrastructure, signaling that the industry is moving beyond exploration toward scaled buildout. Market participants expect a significant portion of major asset classes, including equities, mutual funds, and alternatives, to be tokenized within the next four to five years—with its perceived strategic importance projected to rise sharply over the next five years. Seventy percent of firms say external partnerships will be critical to capturing value as tokenized market infrastructure develops, signaling the need for ecosystem collaboration as standards and interoperability frameworks mature. While firms cite benefits including enhanced liquidity, improved operational efficiency and faster settlement, they also acknowledge risks related to regulatory uncertainty, interoperability challenges, cybersecurity, and market structure fragmentation. The study found that 64% of firms cite cybersecurity risks associated with tokenization and 55% point to increased valuation risk. Notably, many firms believe that forthcoming digital asset regulations will ultimately have a positive impact on adoption by providing greater clarity and market stability. Execution, Not Strategy, Is the Bottleneck Across both AI and tokenization initiatives, the primary barriers to progress lie in firms’ ability to execute.  Eighty-four percent of firms emphasize the importance of integrated platforms, and 43% expect to rebuild core systems to support AI-driven operating models.  At the same time, talent gaps are becoming more acute: 37% of firms cite lack of skilled talent as a barrier to agentic AI adoption, reflecting rising demand for advanced technical and data capabilities. Regarding GenAI, 38% of firms said lack of skilled talent is their biggest barrier to adoption of GenAI, up from 28% in 2025. When asked about AI overall, 65% of firms say they have no formal mandate or incentives in place to use AI, and 61% say AI training is encouraged, but there are no formal targets in place An Industry Embarking on Structural Change  Taken together, the findings point to an industry transitioning from digital experimentation to operational transformation. AI is delivering measurable impact today. Tokenization represents the next structural shift in how financial markets function. The firms that succeed will be those that pair ambition with disciplined execution—modernizing core infrastructure while building the capabilities required to operate in increasingly digitized, interoperable markets.

Lenders could have access to more comprehensive information to support lending decisions, under new proposals by the FCA. The FCA is consulting on designating certain credit reference agencies (CRAs). If a lender shares credit information with one designated consumer CRA, it would be required to share it with them all.  The changes aim to close gaps in consumers’ credit files and ensure these more accurately reflect people’s financial circumstances.  Alison Walters, director of consumer finance at the FCA, said: 'Access to affordable credit relies on good-quality data – it’s vital in helping consumers navigate their financial lives. That’s why we want to make sure everyone’s credit information is as full and accurate as possible.' CRAs collect personal financial data – including credit repayment histories – to provide lenders with information that helps inform lending decisions. Where the information CRAs hold is limited, people may face barriers to accessing credit, or be exposed to increased risks of unaffordable lending, errors or fraud. The FCA’s proposals aim to improve how credit information is shared across the system, benefitting both consumers and firms. The consultation closes on 1 May 2026. Consumers can visit MoneyHelperLink is external  for information on how to check their credit report for free.  Background Read CP26/7: Credit Information Market Study: Proposed approach to implementing FCA remedies. The consultation follows the Credit Information Market Study which set out measures to improve the credit information market. The FCA is proposing that credit and mortgage firms who currently share consumer credit information with at least one of the credit reference agencies to be designated by the FCA, will be required to share the same information with the other designated agencies. There are additional proposals on the quality and accuracy of information shared about consumers and on firms marking county court judgments (CCJs) or Decrees as satisfied (with the relevant court or Registry Trust), where a consumer has repaid the debt. The final report was published in December 2023 and proposed a package of remedies. This included FCA-led remedies, some of which are set out in this consultation. The final report also proposed reforms to industry governance arrangements and other industry-led remedies. A new Credit Information Governance Body (CIGB) has now been established, while industry participants have also commenced work on the industry-led remedies. Find out more information about the FCA. 

Leading regulated digital prime broker GCEX (GCEX Group) serving institutional and professional clients has launched GB Yield, a stablecoin-based yield solution designed exclusively for professional and institutional clients. Developed under its GlobalBlock trading brand, GCEX’s GB Yield provides access to potential institutional-grade yield opportunities generated through structured lending and approved yield-bearing instruments, using high-quality, reserve-backed stablecoins. The strategy is designed to operate without directional exposure to volatile crypto asset markets and without the use of leverage or speculative trading. The product is managed within GCEX Group’s established governance framework and operates under a MiCA-aligned structure, with defined risk management, counterparty oversight and liquidity controls. Lars Holst, CEO, GCEX Group, commented on this launch, “Having acquired GlobalBlock in September 2025 to extend our capabilities for institutional clients, this is the first in a range of new products that we are launching under their brand, as we continue to evolve our offering to remain at the forefront of the industry. GB Yield has been developed for institutions and investors seeking structured access to stablecoin-based yield within a disciplined, governed framework. The focus is on transparency, counterparty quality and institutional risk standards, rather than market speculation.”  Client capital is allocated to a diversified portfolio of high-quality, reserve-backed stablecoins and deployed through two primary channels. These include structured lending arrangements with established, regulated institutional counterparties, and selected yield-bearing instruments that operate within an institutional framework and have been approved through GlobalBlock’s governance process. Returns may be generated through contractual yield arrangements rather than market price movements. The strategy does not seek exposure to the price performance of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum and does not take directional positions in crypto markets. GB Yield operates within a defined governance and risk management framework designed to support institutional requirements. This includes disciplined counterparty selection processes, exposure limits, and ongoing monitoring and oversight throughout the investment lifecycle. GB Yield is available exclusively to professional and institutional clients, subject to applicable jurisdictional restrictions, onboarding procedures and compliance requirements. The product is not available to retail clients. Liquidity is managed through a standard 30-day lock-up structure, intended to balance capital deployment with orderly access to funds. All fees and performance mechanics are clearly disclosed to clients.Target returns are not guaranteed, may vary over time, and are subject to market and counterparty conditions. Capital is at risk. GCEX Group empowers institutional and professional clients to access deep liquidity in CFDs on digital assets and FX, alongside spot trading and conversion of digital assets. The company also offers a comprehensive range of Forex brokerage and crypto-native technology solutions under its XplorDigital suite. XplorDigital features innovative plug-and-play solutions, ‘Crypto in a Box’ and ‘Broker in a Box’ which encompass technology-agnostic platforms addressing regulation while covering regulated custody solutions, staking solutions, safety of funds, tier 1 and deep liquidity, connectivity to the biggest price makers, advanced risk management, and innovative technology partnerships. Headquartered in London, with multiple offices across the globe, GCEX is regulated by the UK’s FCA, authorised and regulated as a CASP under the EU MiCA regulation, and has a Virtual Asset Service Provider license by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. True Global Ventures are investors in GCEX. For further information, please visit www.gc.exchange or LinkedIn   Risk Disclaimer The content of this material is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation or solicitation to conclude a transaction and is for professional and institutional clients only. It is not directed to Retail Clients or residents of any jurisdiction where FX, CFDs and/or Digital Assets trading is restricted or prohibited by local laws or regulations. FX, CFDs and Digital Assets are leveraged products that can result in losses exceeding your deposit. Trading of these products and digital assets carry a high level of risk and may not be suitable for everyone. Before deciding to trade you should carefully consider your objectives, financial situation, level of experience and risk appetite.

TP ICAP, the world’s largest inter‑dealer broker and a leading provider of financial markets infrastructure and data, today announces the next major milestone for its spot cryptoasset exchange, Fusion Digital Assets. The platform will transition to a Matched Principal model in March 2026, enhancing capital efficiency, operational flexibility, and scalability for institutional clients. This proven model is already operated by TP ICAP across global markets, processing over $200 trillion notional in 2025. Under the Matched Principal model, TP ICAP will act as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, standing as the counterparty to both sides of each trade. The benefits for clients include: Every trade is backed by TP ICAP’s investment‑grade credit rating, mitigating counterparty risk. Without the need to pre‑fund trading, clients can trade first and settle later, improving capital efficiency. TP ICAP acts as clients’ counterparty for settlement, reducing risk. Settlement occurs off‑exchange, separating execution from settlement, and custody agnostic, with clients free to deliver from their custodian of choice. Multi-lateral netting: Improving operational efficiency and reducing settlement cost and risks for market participants Simon Forster, Managing Director, Global co-Head of Digital Assets said: “This marks a transformational step in Fusion Digital Asset’s development. It reflects our commitment to delivering trusted, efficient market infrastructure for the digital asset ecosystem.” “This proven model is familiar to institutional clients, delivered by a counterparty they trust. It fills a critical gap in the crypto landscape by improving efficiency, reducing risk, and creating a flexible, institution‑ready framework for trading.” Future developments This new approach will enable Fusion Digital Assets to rapidly expand its universe of tradeable assets, including: Stablecoins Additional major cryptoassets Additional fiat currencies A growing range of tokenised real‑world assets. Operating hours will also expand from 23/5 to 24/5, with weekend coverage added as client demand grows. Last year, Fusion Digital Assets, surpassed $1 billion in monthly notional traded volume across its spot Bitcoin and Ether order books, underscoring growing institutional demand for secure and reliable access to the digital asset market from wholesale venue operators.

Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (JPX) today announces that it has decided on changes to representative executive officer and other senior management positions as follows. Ⅰ. Change to Representative Executive Officer Reason for change A change in the management structure in line with expiration of the term of office 2. Names and job titles of newly appointed and retiring Representative Executive Officer, Group COO Newly appointed Representative Executive Officer, Group COO: Representative Executive Officer, Group COO Yokoyama Ryusuke (Note) To serve concurrently as President & CEO of TSE Retiring Representative Executive Officer, Group COO: Representative Executive Officer, Group COO Iwanaga Moriyuki (Note) To retire as Director of JPX, effective March 31 of this year Click here for full details.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has published the latest gender pay gap results for Australian employers. As at 31 December 2024, ASIC’s average total remuneration gender pay gap was 6.5%, compared to the Australian average gender pay gap of 11.5%. ASIC’s gender pay gap increased from 5.7% recorded in the previous reporting period. Preliminary analysis suggests ASIC’s gender pay gap may have been driven by several factors: ASIC’s overall pay gap outcomes in 2024 were influenced by gender representation across different role levels, with women having greater representation in lower paid roles. Starting pay and pay progression practices may have contributed to differences in average earnings and are a focus of ongoing review. Variations in pay outcomes for employees in similar roles and performance categories had been identified, with further analysis underway to better understand the circumstances and impact on pay gap. At more senior levels, the pay gap was lower than the average and trending down but some pay differences remained, and further action is being considered to build on the rebalancing already undertaken. Certain pay mechanisms and employment arrangements may have had an impact on average pay outcomes and are being examined to ensure consistency and equity. Updates to WGEA’s reporting requirements required the inclusion of the ASIC Chair salary for the first time, impacting the overall gender pay gap. Although a like-for-like comparison with the previous year’s data was difficult due some changes to WGEA’s reporting framework, ASIC is committed to equitable remuneration practices. Approximately 56% of our workforce in 2024 was female and 52% of leadership roles were held by women. Since 2023, ASIC has maintained a balanced executive leadership team at the Senior Executive Service level. Our Women in ASIC committee is focused on improving gender diversity in leadership positions with a goal of 50% representation across the Senior Executive Service and Executive levels. ASIC remains committed to advancing gender equality and is actively working to reduce the gender pay gap across the agency. Our targets in this space as part of the WGEA framework will be published shortly.  For more information and data, see Gender pay gap data on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) website.

New ASIC data released today shows an increase in reports of misconduct (ROMs), driven largely by corporate governance concerns, including failures to provide company records, insolvency matters and shareholder issues. Between 1 July and 31 December 2025, ASIC received 9,686 ROMs, raising 13,036 issues. Corporate governance matters accounted for 40% of these issues, with financial services and retail investor issues totalling 44%. ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said, ‘The figures point to an increase in concerns being raised about corporate governance issues. ‘They underscore ASIC’s enforcement priorities, which include tackling governance and directors’ duties failures, reaffirming that stronger governance remains a top priority for ASIC.’ The Deputy Chair said robust governance isn’t just good practice – it’s good for business and for Australia. ASIC has a number of active investigations into governance failures and directors’ duties. Data also showed a 28% increase in ROMs compared with January to June 2025, partly reflecting ASIC’s uplifted website in June, making it easier to lodge reports of misconduct with ASIC. ‘Reports of misconduct continue to be an important source of intelligence for ASIC,’ the Deputy Chair said. ‘They help us identify key issues for consumers, investors and creditors, and guide our decisions on potential criminal and civil action.’ The Deputy Chair said ASIC continues to welcome reports and tip-offs from the public. The half-yearly report is available on the Reports of misconduct data webpage. ASIC today also released its six-monthly Enforcement and Regulatory update, which highlighted $349.8 million in civil penalties imposed by courts and hundreds of millions of dollars delivered back to Australians as part of investigation and remediation work. More information Reports of misconduct data Report 829 ASIC enforcement and regulatory update: July to December 2025 Summary of enforcement outcomes Background Corporate governance matters accounted for 5,217 of issues raised, up from 3,819 in the previous period. These included governance concerns (35% of category), failures to provide records to liquidators on company activities (19%), fraud allegations (11%), insolvency issues (9%) and reports relating to registered liquidator conduct (5%). More than 5,700 issues related to financial services and retail investor matters.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) sets the official cash rate (OCR) to achieve and maintain price stability (inflation). Banks and other financial institutions like credit unions, building societies and some finance companies use the level of the OCR as one of the factors when they determine interest rates offered to their customers. When the RBNZ changes the OCR the financial institutions may make changes to their interest rates, but that can take time depending on the institution. The table below shows the size of interest rate changes and the time taken for the change to take effect for new and existing customers of floating rate mortgages and on call savings accounts.  The FMA has requested information from eight financial institutions1 that provide ~98% of housing loans in New Zealand2. These financial institutions already provide information about the interest rates applicable to their products, and when they are moved, through a variety of channels.  Click here for full details.

ASIC has secured the highest six-monthly civil penalty total in its history and hundreds of millions of dollars in payments which will flow to Australians in connection with ASIC’s work. New figures reveal ASIC secured a record $349.8 million in court-ordered civil penalties in the second half of 2025 following successful cases against some of Australia’s largest companies and super trustees including ANZ, NAB, Cbus, RAMS and Australian Unity Funds Management. ASIC’s work will also see a total of $583 million returned to millions of Australians through refunds from excessive bank fees after its Better and Beyond review and in payments in connection with investigations into the Shield Master Fund and First Guardian Master Fund. ‘ASIC has secured record penalties in response to serious misconduct, and is protecting Australians and safeguarding trust and confidence in Australia’s financial system,’ ASIC Chair Joe Longo said. ‘Today, ASIC is one of the most active law enforcement agencies in the country. We are taking more cases to court, achieving record penalties, and protecting consumers.’ ASIC’s criminal enforcement work has also helped hold those who broke Australia’s financial services laws to account. While the matter is subject to appeal, the Supreme Court of Western Australia sentenced West Australian fraudster Chris Marco to a 14-year term of imprisonment. ‘This is the highest prison sentence imposed by an Australian court in relation to an ASIC criminal investigation,’ the Chair said. ASIC’s enforcement and regulatory update from July to December 2025 also reveals: $349.8 million in civil penalties imposed by courts (a six-monthly record for ASIC)# $583 million delivered back to tens of thousands of customers and investors as part of remediation, refunds, and payments in connection with ASIC’s work* 123 investigations were launched and 518 surveillances were completed 23 new civil proceedings were filed, 11 new criminal prosecutions were commenced, and 17 criminal convictions were recorded against individuals $6.9 million in infringement notices and $137,315 in criminal fines were paid Some of the major civil penalties follow ASIC’s successful enforcement action against: ANZ, which was ordered to pay $250 million in combined penalties for widespread misconduct and systemic risk failures affecting the Australian Government, taxpayers and almost 65,000 retail bank customers (the largest combined penalties ASIC has secured against a single entity) Cbus, which was ordered to pay $23.5 million for serious failures processing members’ death benefits and insurance claims RAMS Financial Group, which was ordered to pay $20 million for compliance failures relating to arranging home loans NAB, which together with AFSH Nominees Pty Ltd was ordered to pay $15.5 million for hardship failures impacting its customers. In connection with its work, ASIC also: Accepted court enforceable undertakings from Macquarie to pay $321 million to around 3,000 affected Shield Master Fund investors and from Netwealth to pay $101 million to more than 1,000 affected First Guardian Master Fund investors Secured refunds worth $161 million for millions of low-income Australians trapped in high fee accounts, including $68 million announced by Commonwealth Bank in December Successfully intervened in private proceedings between the liquidator of Libertas Financial Planning Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) and Sequoia Financial Pty Ltd, resulting in $975,000 being made available to support claims made by victims in the Sterling First collapse. In addition to enforcement outcomes, ASIC continues to address regulatory complexity through its simplification work, has helped give direction to the future of Australia’s financial markets through its public and private markets work, and announced a transformational package of reforms with the ASX to strengthen confidence in Australia’s critical market infrastructure. ‘While 2025 was a significant year, our work continues in intensity in the year ahead,’ the Chair said. ASIC today also released its six-monthly reports of misconduct (ROMs) data from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, which reveals a 28% increase in ROMs compared to the six months prior, driven by corporate governance concerns including failures to provide company records. More information Report 829 ASIC enforcement and regulatory update: July to December 2025 Summary of enforcement outcomes Background # The figure of $349.8 million reflects civil penalties ordered by courts between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2025. It does not include proposed or agreed civil penalties that remain subject to court approval in 2026. * The figure of $583 million reflects announcements in the reporting period in connection with ASIC’s work. Payments may occur before or after the reporting period and totals may be updated as programs progress.

Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT), a global capital markets technology platform services provider, today announced plans to provide clients with direct connectivity to access the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) in 2026. The initiative is a response to increased client demand to trade Indian markets from both domestic and international clients. Trading Technologies is now officially an empaneled vendor of the NSE, having completed the agreement to connect directly within the exchange's co-location data center. The designation enables TT to offer market participants across the globe high-performance, institutional-grade access to one of the world's most active exchanges, leveraging TT's award-winning platform functionality. Shridhar Sheth, EVP and Head of India and Middle East, said: "We are seeing a continued, strong increase in demand from our global customers who are looking to diversify their trading opportunities and access the vibrant liquidity available on the Indian exchanges. Becoming an empaneled vendor and establishing direct co-location connectivity to the NSE underscores our commitment to provide our users with the widest possible range of international trading opportunities without geographic restriction." Clients trading on NSE will be able to leverage all TT features, including but not limited to execution algorithms, Autospreader®, ADL®, charting and analytics, and APIs. TT, which handled more than 3 billion derivatives transactions alone in 2025, is the most widely used platform globally for futures and options on futures, in addition to its growing use across multiple asset classes. The platform has earned numerous recognitions in 2025 for its high-performance technology and functionality, including Trading System of the Year and Derivatives Trading System of the Year in the FOW Asia Pacific Awards in September.

In coordination with the other U.S.-listed options exchanges, the MIAX Options Exchange, Pearl Options Exchange, Emerald Options Exchange, and Sapphire Options Exchange have adopted a Universal Obvious and Catastrophic Error submission form, as agreed upon by the Listed Options Market Structure Working Group (LOMSWG).For more information, please refer to the following Regulatory Circulars: MIAX Options RC 2026-25 MIAX Pearl Options RC 2026-25 MIAX Emerald Options RC 2026-24 MIAX Sapphire Options RC 2026-25 Regulatory inquiries should be directed to Regulatory@miaxglobal.com or (609) 897-7309.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), the world's leading derivatives and securities exchange network, announced today that Craig Donohue, Chief Executive Officer, Jill Griebenow, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Rob Hocking, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Derivatives, will present at the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida on Monday, March 2 at 9:15 a.m. ET. The live webcast and replay of the presentation will be accessible at ir.cboe.com, under Events and Presentations. The archived webcast is expected to be available within an hour of the presentation.

TMX Group Limited ("TMX Group") announced today that its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") has been accepted by Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). Under the NCIB, TMX Group may purchase up to 2,800,000 of its common shares by way of normal course purchases on Toronto Stock Exchange, representing approximately 1% of the 278,232,220 common shares outstanding on February 20, 2026. The maximum number of shares that can be purchased on the same trading day on TSX is 155,315 shares (25% of the average daily trading volume for the six months ended January 31, 2026, which was 621,261 shares), other than block purchase exceptions. The purchases may commence on February 27, 2026, and will terminate on February 26, 2027, or on such earlier date as TMX Group completes its purchases. TMX Group will make purchases in accordance with TSX requirements and the price TMX Group will pay for any such common shares will be the market price of such shares at the time of acquisition. All purchases will be effected through the facilities of TSX. All repurchased shares will be cancelled. TMX Group has not purchased any of its shares in the past 12 months. TMX Group also entered into a pre-defined plan with its designated broker to allow for the repurchase of common shares at times when TMX Group ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. TMX Group believes that the purchase of common shares from time to time can be undertaken at prices that make the acquisition of such shares an appropriate use of available funds and an appropriate mechanism for returning capital to its shareholders. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release of TMX Group contains "forward looking information" (as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation) that is based on expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and other factors that management believes to be relevant as of the date of this press release. Often, but not always, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "targeted," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," or variations or the negatives of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or not be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking information, by its nature, requires us to make assumptions and is subject to significant risks and uncertainties which may give rise to the possibility that our expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate and that our assumptions may not be correct. Examples of forward-looking information in this press release include, but are not limited to, the expected benefits of the NCIB and the number of shares, if any that will be purchased under the NCIB which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to: Examples of forward-looking information in this press release include, but are not limited to, the expected benefits of and the number of shares, if any, that will be purchased under the NCIB, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to: the competitive landscape in which we operate, the economic performance in Canada and globally, our earnings and free cash flow, our debt levels and target leverage ratio and covenants under TMX Group's revolving credit facility, which among other factors may affect our ability or decision to purchase shares under the NCIB. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. We have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those current expectations described in forward-looking information. However, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from current expectations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect us. A description of the above-mentioned items is contained in the section "Enterprise Risk Management" of our 2025 annual MD&A.

Good morning, and thank you all for attending today’s meeting. Welcome to the Committee’s new members. I appreciate the work of the Committee and the willingness of experts to share their views as panelists. I also appreciate the work of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation in supporting the Committee’s work. I commend the Committee for its continued focus on finders and look forward to any recommendations the Committee develops. As I mentioned at the last meeting, current activity in this area is shaped by a muddled web of no-action letters that is out of step with practical realities. Last meeting’s discussion of status quo finder activity underscored that point. The absence of a finder’s framework does not deter bad actors. Good actors may unwittingly act as finders, or, if they are aware of the law’s unduly strict limitations, may observe from the sidelines rather than helping to match investors and companies. I appreciated your in-depth discussion of what sensible finders regulation could look like and your focus on how finders can help companies to raise money in amounts too small for brokers to bother with. You covered a lot of other territory as well, from essential disclosures for finder activity to AI agents. I hope today’s discussion will be equally interesting and constructive as you devise recommendations. This afternoon, the committee will discuss an increasingly mainstream area of our capital markets, private secondaries. The growth of these markets, from $162 billion in total volume in 2024 to $240 billion in 2025[1], makes today’s conversation timely. I would be interested in hearing what today’s panelists think is in store for the remainder of the year. Will the trend continue? Some of the growth in private secondary markets may stem from an IPO market that, while showing some promising signs of activity, is still not where we would like it to be. Private market investors increasingly are able to turn to secondary markets to exit certain positions and re-allocate capital. While beneficial to investors looking for an exit, the flexibility provided by private market tools such as continuation vehicles diminishes the pressure on companies to IPO.[2] As I expect we will hear from our panelists today, secondary markets are developing to accommodate a wide range of demands that are met by liquidity providers that specialize in a range of transactions. If capital for companies and liquidity for investors and employees are available privately, why take on the burdens associated with being a public company? As this panel discusses the secondary markets, I would appreciate hearing to what degree activity in this space trades off with initial public offerings and what factors investors and issuers consider when deciding which path to pursue. Though I am happy to see capital formation occur in either the private or public markets, I am aligned with Chairman Atkins’ goal of revitalizing IPOs. Our public markets have benefits that simply cannot be recreated privately. The Commission can do more to improve liquidity in our private markets, but public markets facilitate price discovery and retail access in ways that the private secondary markets cannot duplicate perfectly. One long-overdue change that the Commission staff recently made has allowed closed-end funds investing 15% or more of their assets in private funds to sell to non-accredited investors with no minimum investment amount. Has this change been apparent in the marketplace? What else could the Commission do to improve efficiency in and retail access to these markets? Regardless of what we do to expand retail access to private markets, most retail investor portfolios are likely to be concentrated in the public markets. When companies remain private longer those public investors miss out on the opportunity to fully appreciate the growth of companies that in the past may have occurred after those companies went public. While I am heartened to see markets develop solutions to capital allocation problems, the rapid growth of the private secondary market signals the need for earnest efforts to enhance the palatability of our public markets. Thank you and have a productive meeting. [1] Jefferies Global Secondary Market Review (Jan. 2026), pg. 3. Available at: https://go.jefferies.com/l/399542/2026-01-23/5v1tf1/399542/1769183474J7SWeVCW/Jefferies___Global_Secondary_Market_Review___January_2026.pdf?utm_term=6840380660 [2] Goldman Sachs 2026 Global M&A Outlook: Think Big, Build Bigger, pg. 7. Available at: https://www.goldmansachs.com/what-we-do/investment-banking/insights/articles/2026-ma-outlook/goldman-sachs-2026-global-ma-outlook.pdf.

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is warning Ontario investors that the following companies are not registered to deal or advise in securities in Ontario: ESET Trading Grin Dominance High Peak Zenix (aka Highpeak Zenix) IntelApp2 Protraderai.org (aka Pro Trader AI) Profitbah (aka Profitifybah) Skycrest Valtrio Arctic Valtrix AI Crysten Hexalo AI At the OSC, we issue investor warnings and alerts about possible harmful or illegal activity in progress, and maintain a warning list of companies or individuals performing activities that may pose a risk to investors. A full list of OSC investor warnings and alerts is available on the OSC’s website. Investors can sign up for email notifications when new warnings and alerts are issued and can follow the OSC’s X feed at @OSC_News. Ontarians who have been approached by any of the individuals or firms listed above, or any other unregistered company or individual, are advised to contact the OSC Contact Centre at 1-877-785-1555 or via email at inquiries@osc.gov.on.ca. Always check the registration of any person or business trying to sell you an investment or give you investment advice. This can be done by visiting the Check Before You Invest or the Crypto businesses pages on the OSC website. The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. Investors are urged to check the registration of any persons or company offering an investment opportunity and to review the OSC investor materials available at https://www.osc.ca.  

The FCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent Football Regulator (IFR). The MoU establishes how the 2 organisations will work together and support effective regulation where football and financial services intersect. It also sets out a high-level framework for principles for cooperation between the IFR and the FCA. Read the MoU (PDF)

FTSE Russell, the global index provider, advises of the following indicative changes to the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, based on data as of Friday 20th February 2026. PLEASE NOTE: The actual review of the FTSE UK Index Series will be conducted using data as at market close on Tuesday 3rd March 2026. Confirmed rebalance changes will be announced after market close on Wednesday 4th March 2026.  Indicative FTSE 100 Additions Indicative FTSE 100 Deletions IG Group Holdings Easyjet Tritax Big Box REIT Rightmove Indicative FTSE 250 Additions Indicative FTSE 250 Deletions CVS Group IG Group Holdings Easyjet NCC Group Rightmove Pinewood Technologies Group The Schiehallion Fund Tritax Big Box REIT  

Today, ACER releases its report on the Slovak gas transmission tariffs directed at Eustream, Slovakia’s transmission system operator (TSO). The report assesses the compliance of the proposed reference price methodology (RPM) with the requirements of the EU Network Code on Harmonised Transmission Tariff Structures (NC TAR). What is the proposed tariff methodology? The Slovak TSO proposes to: Change the current methodology to introduce new tariffs in the middle of the ongoing tariff period, which would result in a tariff increase of more than 70%. The TSO cites exceptional circumstances (a large drop in cross-system flows) as the reason for this change. Apply a uniform postage stamp reference price methodology with an ex-ante entry-exit split for 2026-2027. Continue recovering transmission revenues through a mix of capacity-based and commodity-based charges. Adjust capacity tariffs at all entry and exit points (including domestic points) through benchmarking, using a wide set of European TSO tariffs as a reference. Keep two commodity-based charges in place: a flow-based charge paid in kind and a complementary revenue recovery charge. What are ACER’s key findings? After analysing the consultation document, ACER concludes that: The proposed methodology meets the EU requirement on non-discrimination. Compliance with other NC TAR requirements (including transparency, cost-reflectivity, avoidance of cross-subsidisation, volume risk and the prevention of cross-border trade distortions) cannot be confirmed. The proposed commodity-based charges are also non-compliant. Read more about ACER findings and recommendations.