By CIMA – For the past five decades, the Cayman Islands has maintained its position as the number one domicile for hedge funds. Central to its success is a comprehensive regulatory framework and the ability to adapt to evolving international standards, thus highlighting the jurisdiction’s commitment to the enhancement of financial supervision.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU securities regulator, has launched a public consultation on its draft guidance to address leverage risks in the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) sector. 

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority last night (23 March) ruled out a ban on short selling, as many major hedge fund firms continue to weigh in with bearish bets to capitalise on the recent global market turmoil.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Division of Market Oversight (DMO) has issued three no-action letters providing temporary, targeted relief to swap execution facilities (SEFs) and certain designated contract markets (DCMs) in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The European Securities and Markets Authority, the pan-EU financial watchdog, tightened rules on short-selling on Monday, and will now require hedge funds and other holders of net short positions to notify their respective national regulators of positions greater than 0.1 per cent of a company’s share capital.

The UK could prove more attractive to hedge funds and other alternative investment funds under new Government proposals to review how asset holding companies for investment funds are taxed.

The Financial Conduct Authority has introduced a temporary ban on the short selling of certain Italian stocks, which will last until the end of Friday’s trading, in a move to calm the sustained frenzied selling following hefty slides in global stock markets this week.

John C Ertman, a long-time litigator for the investment management industry, has launched a new, conflict-free litigation firm, Ertman Dulis & Helisek. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief against Florida-based investment adviser Kinetic Investment Group and its managing member, Michael Scott Williams, in connection with an alleged fraudulent, unregistered securities offering that raised approximately USD39 million from at least 30 investors located mostly in Florida and Puerto Rico.

TRAction, a regulatory reporting services provider, has launched a new solution to assist UK and European investment managers with their MiFID II obligations to monitor and give clients the best possible execution outcomes.