Article: Wall Street Giants Beat Treasury Auction Rigging MDL

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Wall Street Giants Beat Treasury Auction Rigging MDL

Dean Seal, 30 March 2021

A New York federal judge ruled Wednesday that he has yet to see any direct evidence that Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse conspired to manipulate the $14 trillion market for securities issued by the U.S. Treasury Department.

U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe dismissed long-running multidistrict litigation accusing a group of banks that also included JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley of rigging auctions for Treasury Department bonds and other securities, on top of reducing competition in a secondary market for those securities. Continue reading “Article: Wall Street Giants Beat Treasury Auction Rigging MDL”

Article: Danske could absorb $3.3B money-laundering fine and still hit own CET1 target

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Danske could absorb $3.3B money-laundering fine and still hit own CET1 target

Sanne WassRehan Ahmad,  29 March 2021

Danske Bank A/S’ capital levels and projected first-quarter earnings imply that it could withstand a money-laundering fine of 20.9 billion kroner, or $3.3 billion, today and still achieve its management common equity Tier 1 ratio target of 16%, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence estimates.

Even a penalty of more than double that size would still leave Denmark’s largest lender above its current regulatory requirement, the analysis found. “There is a long way to go before the fine becomes an issue for the bank’s capital ratio,” said Jyske Bank equity analyst Anders Vollesen in an interview.

Danske’s material capital buffer is driving down risk associated with the outcome of its Baltic dirty money scandal, according to analysts, with some even seeing scope for distribution of excess capital to shareholders through generous dividends or share buybacks once the case is settled. Continue reading “Article: Danske could absorb $3.3B money-laundering fine and still hit own CET1 target”

Article: FCA comes down on Wirex after allegations of turning a blind eye to money laundering

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FCA comes down on Wirex after allegations of turning a blind eye to money laundering

Aisling Finn,  30 March 2021

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has decided to crack down on crypto and fiat currency payments provider Wirex after money laundering allegations surfaced, according to an investigation by Fintech Futures.

In response to the article, Wirex’s legal team said: “The article in question contains a number of false, defamatory and misleading statements, including the allegations that money is being laundered through the company, and Wirex is currently considering its legal options to have the article removed immediately.”

Concerns were allegedly first raised all the way back in February 2019 after several Wirex employees independently approached the FCA with concerns that customer money was being laundered through the company, according to the report by Fintech Futures.

The employees, one of which was in a senior compliance position, also reportedly raised concerns that Wirex was trading crypto that wasn’t the company’s to trade. Continue reading “Article: FCA comes down on Wirex after allegations of turning a blind eye to money laundering”

Article: A “Very Surprised” JPMorgan Calculates The Damage From The Archegos Collapse

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A “Very Surprised” JPMorgan Calculates The Damage From The Archegos Collapse

TYLER DURDEN,  30 March 2021

Unlike the devastating London Whale debacle in 2012, which was all JPMorgan eventually drawn and quartered quite theatrically before Congress (and was a clear explanation of how banks used Fed reserves to manipulate markets, something most market participants had no idea was possible), this time JPMorgan was nowhere to be found in the aftermath of the historic margin call that destroyed hedge fund Archegos. Which is may explain why JPMorgan bank analyst Kian Abouhossein admits he is quite “puzzled” by the recent fallout from the Archegos implosion (or maybe JPM simply was not a Prime Broker of the notorious Tiger cub), which however does not prevent him from trying to calculate the capital at risk from the Archegos collapse. Continue reading “Article: A “Very Surprised” JPMorgan Calculates The Damage From The Archegos Collapse”

Article: Where short sellers meet ESG

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Where short sellers meet ESG

THE MARKET EAR,  30 March 2021

Sustainable investments have seen accelerated trends during the last five years. ESG- screening and ESG compliance ETFs enormous inflows have created a huge demand for clean and “green washed” stocks, that consequently received huge valuation premium to the overall market. This is certainly a long-term trend, but the last year hype has now cooled down with popular stocks like PLUG, RUN, ENPH, NOVA having corrected by between 35% and 60% from their highs (PLUG needs to gain 120% to break even for those long at highs…). Continue reading “Article: Where short sellers meet ESG”

Article: Financial Capitalism: The Endgame

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Financial Capitalism: The Endgame

TYLER DURDEN,  30 March 2021


In 2008, we had the opportunity, collectively, to reboot a broken financial system so it became fit for purpose.

But instead of reconfiguring finance to serve the real economy politicians and central bankers used quantitative easing to buy time which lulled the mainstream media into reporting that everything was back on track. Some people haven’t bought that story.

Marc Friederich and Matthias Weik are two economists who didn’t succumb to groupthink after the 2008 crash and now see financial capitalism’s end game.

Friedrich explained to Renegade Inc. that the authors’ intention is to help translate the complexity of a financial system by inverting it into a language that everybody understands. Having studied economics, and as children of the dot com bubble, the authors of four best-selling books in Germany, stress the important role sarcasm and dark humour play in their work in respect to making seemingly complex matters accessible to the wider public. Continue reading “Article: Financial Capitalism: The Endgame”

Article: Vegas Sands Probes Money-Laundering Safeguards at Singapore Unit

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Vegas Sands Probes Money-Laundering Safeguards at Singapore Unit

Chanyaporn Chanjaroen,  29 March 2021

Las Vegas Sands Corp. set up a special committee to look into potential breaches of anti-money laundering procedures at its Singapore casino, which has already been the target of probes by U.S. officials and local police.

The committee of three independent board members is reviewing money transfers among high-rollers and third parties at Marina Bay Sands, as well as any possible retaliation against whistle blowers, according to people familiar with the matter. U.S. law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP has been hired to assist with the review, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality involved.

Las Vegas Sands declined to comment. Continue reading “Article: Vegas Sands Probes Money-Laundering Safeguards at Singapore Unit”

Article: Taiwan allows Cargill to repatriate $2 billion frozen in currency speculation case: sources

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Taiwan allows Cargill to repatriate $2 billion frozen in currency speculation case: sources

Ben Blanchard, 29 March 2021

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s central bank has allowed U.S.-based commodities house Cargill Ltd to repatriate around $2 billion that had been frozen as part of an investigation into currency manipulation, four people with direct knowledge told Reuters.

The central bank last month punished four foreign banks, including Deutsche Bank for helping grains firms speculate in the deliverable forwards foreign exchange market, as it moved to slow the Taiwan dollar’s rise.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorised to speak to journalists, sources told Reuters that Cargill was one of the main grains companies involved. The central bank has not named Cargill in its communications on the matter. Continue reading “Article: Taiwan allows Cargill to repatriate $2 billion frozen in currency speculation case: sources”

Article: Former Glencore oil trader pleads guilty to market manipulation charges

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Former Glencore oil trader pleads guilty to market manipulation charges

Chris Prentice,  29 March 2021

A former Glencore Plc fuel oil trader pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $100,000 to settle charges of market manipulation of a key U.S. pricing benchmark, U.S. authorities said on Thursday.

Emilio José Heredia Collado admitted to a multiyear conspiracy to manipulate the fuel oil market, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Heredia agreed to a lifetime ban and a civil penalty of $100,000 to settle parallel charges filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

From as early as June 2012 to at least August 2016, Heredia and others at Glencore sought to boost their profits from oil trading by manipulating prices, U.S. officials said.

A Glencore spokesperson said the firm is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

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Article: Why Is It Moving? Looking Into Why SeaChange International’s Stock is Trading Higher Today

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Why Is It Moving? Looking Into Why SeaChange International’s Stock is Trading Higher Today

Erin Clark,  29 March 2021

Hong Kong Is Set to Target First SPAC Listing by End of Year

(Bloomberg) — Hong Kong is expected to have its own blank check company listing framework ready in June for public feedback and targets allowing deals to start by the end of this year, according to people familiar with the matter.The city is looking at tighter rules for sponsors of special purpose acquisition company listings and their buy-out targets than those enforced in the U.S., said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal deliberations. Continue reading “Article: Why Is It Moving? Looking Into Why SeaChange International’s Stock is Trading Higher Today”

Article: Banking Stocks Credit Suisse, Nomura Reeling From Archegos Hedge Fund Fire Sale

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Banking Stocks Credit Suisse, Nomura Reeling From Archegos Hedge Fund Fire Sale

ADELIA CELLINI LINECKER,  29 March 2021

Investment banks Nomura (NMR), Credit Suisse (CS) and possibly others are on the hook for billions of dollars in losses as Archegos Capital Management hedge fund was forced to dump more shares Monday to meet liquidity minimums. Nomura and Credit Suisse stocks plunged more than 10%.

Among the companies affected by the fire sale that started last week are ViacomCBS (VIAC) and Discovery Communications (DISCA). Their shares sank more than 25% on Friday.

Archegos has sold nearly $30 billion in shares so far to meet a margin call. A broker makes a margin call to require a client to add funds to its account if the value of it drops below a certain level. The client, in this case Archegos, has to liquidate investments to meet that requirement. Continue reading “Article: Banking Stocks Credit Suisse, Nomura Reeling From Archegos Hedge Fund Fire Sale”

Article: How Goldman And Other Wall Street Giants Loaned Billions To Someone Who Traded Like A Meme Stock Gambler

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How Goldman And Other Wall Street Giants Loaned Billions To Someone Who Traded Like A Meme Stock Gambler

Kevin Dowd,  29 March 2021

Imagine if Goldman Sachs GS -0.5% lent a billion dollars to RoaringKitty.

News about margin calls is once again roiling markets. Except this time, instead of industry outsiders like Robinhood and RoaringKitty, a leading GameStop bull on WallStreetBets subreddit, the drama centers on traditional giants of the financial establishment. Continue reading “Article: How Goldman And Other Wall Street Giants Loaned Billions To Someone Who Traded Like A Meme Stock Gambler”

Article: Las Vegas Sands probes potential money-laundering breaches at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino

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Las Vegas Sands probes potential money-laundering breaches at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino

Bloomberg,  29 March 2021

Las Vegas Sands Corp. set up a special committee to look into potential breaches of anti-money-laundering procedures at its Singapore casino, which has already been the target of probes by US officials and local police.

The committee of three independent board members is reviewing money transfers among high rollers and third parties at Marina Bay Sands, as well as any possible retaliation against whistle-blowers, according to people familiar with the matter.

US law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP has been hired to assist with the review, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality involved. Las Vegas Sands declined to comment. Continue reading “Article: Las Vegas Sands probes potential money-laundering breaches at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino”

Article: Citibank Faces New Forex Rigging Suit From Currency Trader

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Citibank Faces New Forex Rigging Suit From Currency Trader

Joanne Faulkner, 29 March 2021

Citibank has become the latest bank to be sued by a British currency investment firm over allegations that its traders manipulated foreign exchange markets for profit, in the expanding litigation accusing the company of trade front-running.

ECU Group PLC alleges in an amended March 10 High Court claim, which was recently made public, that traders at Citibank NA misused its confidential information to make secret profits. They allegedly traded ahead of forex transactions by ECU clients, an illegal tactic known as front-running. Continue reading “Article: Citibank Faces New Forex Rigging Suit From Currency Trader”

Article: FinCEN’s $390 Million Case Against Capital One – And What It Means For AML Enforcement

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FinCEN’s $390 Million Case Against Capital One – And What It Means For AML Enforcement

Seetha Ramachandran and Hena Vora,  29 March 2021

As the financial services industry prepares for expanded criminal and civil enforcement under the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) with the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, FinCEN’s recent case against Capital One shows how FinCEN’s approach to AML enforcement is evolving.

On January 15, 2021, FinCEN assessed a $390 million civil money penalties against Capital One for violations of the BSA related to Capital One’s Check Cashing Group (the “CCG”). CCG is a business unit under Capital One’s commercial bank through which Capital One provides banking services including processing checks and providing customers with armored car cash shipments. In issuing its decision, FinCEN determined that, between 2008 and 2014, Capital One’s CCG failed to report millions of dollars in suspicious transactions. Specifically, FinCEN found that Capital One: Continue reading “Article: FinCEN’s $390 Million Case Against Capital One – And What It Means For AML Enforcement”

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