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The FSB is reviewing cloud provider concentration risk in the latest example of regulator concern over reliance on leading cloud providers by financial services institutions.

By Alan W. Avery, Nicola Higgs, and Fiona Maclean

The Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body of G-20 central banks and supervisors, continues to scrutinize the use of cloud services by financial services institutions. The FSB previously noted its concerns about the concentration risk of cloud services in the financial markets in a report of February this year. In that report, the FSB encouraged regulators worldwide to review their national regulatory frameworks to ensure appropriate oversight of cloud providers.

Many auto advisers and automated discretionary investment managers risk poor outcomes for customers by falling short of FCA expectations.

By Nicola Higgs and Brett Carr

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a statement outlining its expectations of firms providing automated online discretionary investment management (ODIM) services and retail investment auto advisers (auto advisors). The FCA uses its statement to remind firms that the regulator’s rules, including those in relation to suitability and advice, apply equally to services regardless of the medium through which they are offered. Current providers and planned new market entrants should heed the warnings and the learnings of this statement.

The Strategy emphasises the UK government’s continued push to create a world-leading FinTech sector.

By Stuart Davis, Charlotte Collins and Sam Wong

At the second International Fintech Conference held on 22 March 2018, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the launch of the UK’s first Fintech Sector Strategy.

The Strategy includes the following key measures:

  • A new Cryptoassets Task Force — consisting of HM Treasury, the Bank of England, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) — will be set up to help the UK manage risks relating to cryptoassets and to harness potential benefits of the underlying technology.
  • “Robo-regulation” pilot schemes will be developed to assist regulated firms in complying with regulation, by creating software that would automatically ensure regulated firms follow the relevant rules. It is hoped this will help reduce compliance costs for newer and smaller firms, who are often disproportionately burdened, as well as potentially improving the accuracy of data submissions.