New York | London

THE SHIPKEVITCH LAW FIRM PLLC | attorneys and counsellors at law since 2004

CFTC ACTION: Raleigh Capital Management Inc.

Felix Shipkevich - October 30, 2009

The CFTC announced that it obtained an emergency court order freezing assets held by defendants Raleigh Capital Management Inc. of Chicago and its sole principal, Richmond Hamilton, Jr., who resides in Morocco. The emergency order stems from a CFTC complaint filed on October 28, 2009, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

FSA fined GMAC‑RFC Limited £2.8million

Felix Shipkevich - October 29, 2009

The FSA announced it has fined GMAC‑RFC Limited £2.8million for failing to treat customers fairly and secured redress of up to £7.7million (plus interest) for over 46,000 mortgage customers. Between 31 October 2004 and 30 November 2008, a number of serious failings by GMAC-RFC were identified in relation to its dealings with customers experiencing arrears [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

Biannual Macroeconomic Review

Felix Shipkevich - October 29, 2009

MAS Economic Policy Department released its biannual Macroeconomic Review. Highlight from the review are below:
After experiencing its deepest recession since independence, the Singapore economy registered two quarters of double-digit sequential expansion and appears to be in its recovery phase. This was driven, in part, by the easing of global financial conditions and a reversal of [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

The DFSA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Mr Paul Koster, Chief Executive of the DFSA said, “There are already a number of branches of Indian firms operating in the DIFC so this agreement, which reflects the responsibilities of both agencies, will enhance information sharing and [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

Payment services regulations imposed

Felix Shipkevich - October 28, 2009

The FSA will begin regulating banks’ and building societies’ day-to-day contact with their customers from 1 November 2009, covering everything from direct debits, payments, instant access and savings accounts through to unauthorized transactions and notification of interest rate changes. Banks will have to provide prospective customers with full information on the service or product that [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

FSA fines insurance broker Swinton Group Ltd

Felix Shipkevich - October 28, 2009

FSA fined the insurance broker Swinton Group Ltd £770,000 for serious failings in their advised sales of single premium payment protection insurance (PPI). Swinton has also agreed to contact over 350,000 customers who paid for the PPI and offer a full refund. Swinton accrued approximately £7.8 million from its PPI sales. Between December 2006 and [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

NFA ACTION: Income Plus Asset Management Inc

Felix Shipkevich - October 28, 2009

On September 25, 2009, the NFA issued a complaint charging Income Plus Asset Management Inc and its principal William Fischbach with failing to cooperate fully and promptly with NFA. On October 28, 2009, IPAM was ordered to never again apply for NFA membership or act as a principal of an NFA Member. Fischbach was ordered [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

BBA Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure

Felix Shipkevich - October 26, 2009

The FSA announced that the major UK-headquartered banks have agreed to implement a new code for financial reporting disclosure. The BBA Code for Financial Reporting Disclosure forms part of proposals, designed to enhance investors’ confidence in financial reporting and to aid their ability to compare and contrast banks’ performance.  It is based on an overarching [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

Excerpt:
In just the past two weeks, two important committees in the U.S. House of Representatives – the Financial Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee – both passed historic legislation that, for the first time, introduces comprehensive regulation to the OTC derivatives marketplace.
Both of the committees’ bills include three important elements of regulatory reform: First, they [...]

CONTINUE READING >>

CFTC urged Congress to require “non-major” financial firms and funds to use clearinghouses to reduce the risk of another market collapse as part of its reform of the swaps market.  Bills approved by two House committees this month to regulate over-the-counter derivatives would require swaps dealers and major market participants to send “standardized” contracts through [...]

CONTINUE READING >>