ASIC:
Just whisper it in my ear…
…what?
No! No, you can't short it…. pic.twitter.com/iUtcnLWdrX— Gabe (@Gabe_Bernarde) June 21, 2021
Article: Westpac Probed by Regulator on Insider Trading Allegations
Article - Media, PublicationsWestpac Probed by Regulator on Insider Trading Allegations
Nabila Ahmed, 05 May 2021
Australia’s securities regulator is probing Westpac Banking Corp. on allegations of insider trading, just months after the country’s second-biggest lender paid a record fine to settle breaches of anti-money laundering laws.
The allegations relate to Westpac’s role in executing a A$12 billion ($9.3 billion) interest-rate swap transaction with a consortium of AustralianSuper Pty Ltd. and a group of IFM entities in October 2016, according to a statement on Wednesday from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. Continue reading “Article: Westpac Probed by Regulator on Insider Trading Allegations”
Article: Asic accuses Westpac of insider trading over $12bn Ausgrid privatisation deal
Article - Media, PublicationsAsic accuses Westpac of insider trading over $12bn Ausgrid privatisation deal
Ben Butler, 05 May 2021
The corporate regulator has taken legal action accusing Westpac of insider trading over a $12bn interest rate swap linked to the part-privatisation in 2016 of New South Wales’s electricity distribution network, Ausgrid.
In a federal court lawsuit filed on Wednesday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission accused Westpac of using inside information to trade in interest rate derivatives during the two hours before it executed the swap, which was the largest in Australian history.
It is the latest regulatory blow for the big bank, which in September last year agreed to pay a record $1.3bn fine to settle legal action over money laundering and child exploitation allegations levelled against it by the financial intelligence agency, Austrac.
Westpac also has recent form in the area of market manipulation – in 2018, the federal court found it had engaged in “serious and unacceptable” conduct by attempting to fix an interest rate benchmark, and fined it $3.3m, which was the maximum available under the law at the time.
Article: After WallStreetBets, Australia’s securities regulator warns share trading forums
Article - Media, PublicationsAfter WallStreetBets, Australia’s securities regulator warns share trading forums
Byron Kaye, 27 April 2021
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s securities regulator has contacted internet share trading forums to question them about policing of “pump and dump” scams on their platforms, a sign of growing scrutiny of an investment subculture that soared during pandemic lockdowns.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) told Reuters it has boosted surveillance of local retail trading internet chatrooms that have sprung up since the “WallStreetBets” Reddit chatroom was linked to wild U.S. stock fluctuations this year.
That has led to discussions between the regulator several operators of the profanity, irony and meme-laden chat forums – who often operate anonymously – about their liability if they allow share inflation schemes to flourish. Continue reading “Article: After WallStreetBets, Australia’s securities regulator warns share trading forums”
Article: CBA, ANZ to Settle 2016 Lawsuit Involving BBSW Manipulation
Article - Media, PublicationsCBA, ANZ to Settle 2016 Lawsuit Involving BBSW Manipulation
Editors, Regulation Asia, 23 March 2021
The case was initially launched by two US hedge funds and a US-based derivatives trader, alleging they suffered losses due to bank manipulation of the BBSW.
CBA (Commonwealth Bank of Australia) and ANZ Bank have separately issued statements saying they have reached an agreement to settle a class action brought against them in the US in 2016 involving the trading of certain BBSW-based products. Continue reading “Article: CBA, ANZ to Settle 2016 Lawsuit Involving BBSW Manipulation”
Article: Caught in a bear trap: How ‘short and distort’ attacks are costing Australian investors billions
Article - MediaCaught in a bear trap: How ‘short and distort’ attacks are costing Australian investors billions
Sydney Morning Herald,
Australia has become a paradise for a new, aggressive form of short selling. And regulators’ failure to act is costing investors billions.
Dubbed the “short and distort” gang, a group of largely foreign-based research houses issue highly damaging reports, designed to cause maximum damage to the companies they target.
Article: ASIC probes ‘naked’ short selling
Article - MediaASIC probes ‘naked’ short selling
John Kehoe
Australian Financial Review, 23 March 2020
The securities regulator is looking out for illegal “naked” short selling by stock traders, in response to a rise in the number of investors failing to settle share trades during the recent financial market turbulence.
Naked short selling is illegal, and occurs when a short seller has executed a trade without a securities lending arrangement with a third party.
Companies with notable net short sales of their stock include Galaxy Resources (19 per cent), Syrah Resources (17.5 per cent), Metcash (13 per cent), Inghams Group (12.6 per cent), JB Hi-Fi (9.5 per cent), Costa Group (8.8 per cent), Myer (8.3 per cent), Perpetual (8.2 per cent), Bega Cheese (8 per cent), Bank of Queensland (7.8 per cent), Blackmores (7.8 per cent), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (7.7 per cent), Webjet (7.7 per cent), Flight Centre (6.5 per cent), Kogan (6.5 per cent), Domino’s Pizza (6.2 per cent), Seek (6.2 per cent) and AMP (6.2 per cent) as of March 17, according to ASIC data.
