We have signed a contract with Etrading Software (ETS) to deliver the UK bond consolidated tape. A high-quality tape will provide investors with a comprehensive overview of the bond market and support price formation and liquidity. It will help maintain the UK’s position as a highly competitive and compelling place to invest and grow.ETS has now launched a website that sets out key milestones and provides technical information for data contributors and users. We will continue to support ETS a...
Broker DealerAsset ManagerBank Guidance consultations
GC25/1 within Primary Market Bulletin No. 55 consults on targeted amendments to FCA Knowledge Base technical notes to align with UK Listing Rules (UKLR) changes effective 29 July 2024 and a new ESEF taxonomy for digital reporting. This matters for listed issuers and advisors as it updates formal guidance on periodic reporting, inside information handling, and position disclosures, ensuring compliance with post-reform listing regime requirements.
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What Changed
Amendments to five technical notes: FCA/TN/506.2 (Periodic financial information and inside information), Primary Market/TN/507.1 (Structured digital reporting for IFRS annual statements, reflecting new ESEF taxonomy per DTR 4.1.15R), UKLA/TN/520.2 (Delaying disclosure/dealing with leaks and rumours), UKLA/TN/521.3 (Assessing and handling inside information), and UKLA/TN/542.2 (Issuer's obligations on position disclosures).
Broader PMB 55 finalises 44 notes (e.g., TN/209.4 on Listing Principle 2
What You Need To Do
- Review blacklined amendments in GC25/1 and PMB 55; submit feedback by 15 May 2025 if impacted
- Update internal policies, training, and procedures to reflect finalised notes (e
- Until finalised, interpret existing guidance in light of UKLR; monitor for TN/710 update in future PMB
- For digital reporting, prepare for new ESEF taxonomy in annual IFRS statements
Key Dates
2025 Guidance Consultation opens.
2025 Guidance Consultation closes; comments due to primarymarketbulletin@fca.org.uk. DEADLINE
July 2025 (target) - FCA intends to finalise consulted notes.
2024 UKLR effective date (context for updates).
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium – Past consultation deadline (15 May 2025) as of January 2026, but finalisation expected by July 2025 requires proactive policy reviews to avoid non-compliance with updated listing guidance. Matters for market integrity and operational alignment with UKLR reforms, with low immediate
All Firms
Consultation papers
The FCA's CP25/31 proposes a regulatory framework for introducing a UK equity Consolidated Tape (CT), operated by a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP), to collate and distribute comprehensive post-trade data (prices and volumes) across trading venues and OTC trades in equities, including shares, ETFs, depository receipts, and similar instruments. This matters for compliance as it imposes new data contribution obligations on trading venues and APAs, aims to enhance market transparency and competitiveness under the FCA's 2025-2030 Strategy, and builds on FSMA 2023 powers for Data Reporting Services Providers (DRSPs). Firms must engage now to shape rules via consultation, with potential operations targeted for 2027.
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What Changed
CTP Obligations: Proposed rules establish core regulatory requirements for CTPs, including governance, operational resiliency, data collation/distribution, competitive pricing, and simple licensing structures to ensure accessibility and affordability.
Data Contributor Obligations: Trading venues and Approved Publication Arrangements (APAs) must provide trade data (e.g., prices, volumes) to the CTP, covering trades across venues and OTC equity transactions.
Scope and Outcomes: CT focuses on post-
What You Need To Do
- Respond to Consultation
- Data Readiness
- Monitor Updates
- Engage Stakeholders
- Compliance Mapping
Key Dates
2025 Consultation opens and CP25/31 first published.
2026 Consultation page last updated; period extended.
2026 Consultation closes (extended from original dates).
2026 FCA to publish CP on equity transparency regime (linked to CT).
2027 Target for equity CT to be operational.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – While still in consultation (closes 13/02/2026), proposals mandate data contributions from trading venues/APAs and CTP setup, with 2027 operations targeted; non-engagement risks misaligned systems or missed CTP opportunities. Matters due to FSMA 2023 empowerment, links to equity tran
Broker DealerAll Firms
The FCA has fined Russel Gerrity £309,843 for using inside information to net himself £128,765. As a consultant, Mr Gerrity had access to information about whether oil and gas had been discovered during the drilling of wells. Between October 2018 and January 2022, he took advantage of this and used inside information to buy shares in Chariot Oil & Gas Limited and Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Plc ahead of announcements that increased their price. On another occasion, he used inside information t...
Broker DealerAsset Manager
This Market Notice sets out amendment to the schedule for sales in Q1 2026 of gilts held in the Asset Purchase Facility (APF) for monetary policy purposes.
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
This page contains information about fines published during 2026. The total amount of fines so far is £371,700. Firm or individual finedDateAmountReasonRichard Adam07/01/2026£232,800The Final Notice refers to knowing concern in breaches of Article 15 of the Market Abuse Regulations, Listing Rule 1.3.3R, Listing Principle 1 and Premium Listing Principle 2.Zafar Khan07/01/2026£138,900The Final Notice refers to knowing concern in breaches of Article 15 of the Market Abuse Regulations, Listing Ru...
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
The Money Markets Committee is a forum for market participants and authorities to discuss the UK unsecured deposits and funding market and securities lending and repo markets.
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
This Market Notice sets out the schedule for sales in Q1 2026 of gilts held in the Asset Purchase Facility (APF) for monetary policy purposes.
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
The Money Markets Committee is a forum for market participants and authorities to discuss the UK unsecured deposits and funding market and securities lending and repo markets.
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
We confirm that the FCA has opened an investigation into WH Smith PLC. The investigation concerns potential breaches of UK Listing Principles and Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules in relation to the matters announced by WH Smith PLC on 19 November 2025.
The FCA has launched an investigation into WH Smith PLC for potential breaches of UK Listing Principles and Rules, as well as Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTRs), stemming from announcements made by the company on 19 November 2025. This underscores the FCA's heightened scrutiny of listed companies' disclosure practices and adherence to market conduct standards. Compliance professionals should note this as a signal of enforcement risk in timely and accurate market disclosures, potentially setting precedents for similar cases.
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What Changed
This is not a policy change or new rule; it is an enforcement investigation announcement with no immediate regulatory amendments. It highlights ongoing enforcement of existing rules:
UK Listing Principles and Rules: These require listed issuers to act with integrity, provide accurate and timely information, and maintain effective systems for compliance (e.g., Principle 2 on communication with investors; Listing Rule 9 on continuing obligations).
Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTRs): Specific
What You Need To Do
- For WH Smith PLC
- For other listed firms
- announcement sign-off processes involving legal/compliance/IR
- plan profit warnings or material updates, documenting decision trails
Key Dates
19 November 2025 - WH Smith PLC announcement triggering the investigation (reference point for alleged breaches).
late 2026 or 2027. Firms should monitor FCA updates via the specific URL or FCA enforcement news.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High. This matters due to the FCA's aggressive enforcement posture on market abuse/disclosures (e.g., post-SPPF reforms emphasizing individual accountability). Breaches can lead to multimillion-pound fines (e.g., 10% of annual revenue), director bans, and reputational damage, amplified by p
All Firms
The FCA welcomes the Government’s consultation on a new benchmarks regime for the UK. Since the introduction of the current regulatory framework, the financial landscape has evolved significantly. We now have an opportunity to build a regime that is more targeted to current market conditions and to reduce unnecessary burdens on industry, without compromising high standards. We are working with the Government to reform the current benchmarks regime to ensure that the regulatory framework remai...
The FCA welcomes HM Treasury's consultation on reforming the UK Benchmarks Regulation (BMR) to create a narrower, risk-based **Specified Authorised Benchmarks Regime (SABR)**, reducing regulatory scope by 80-90% to target only systemically important benchmarks and administrators while easing burdens on industry. This matters for compliance professionals as it shifts from broad regulation of all benchmarks to targeted oversight, requiring firms to reassess benchmark usage, prepare for transition, and adapt to FCA rules on risk management, enhancing UK competitiveness post-FSMA 2023 repeal of assimilated laws.
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What Changed
Narrower scope: Regulation limited to benchmarks/administrators designated by HM Treasury (HMT) on FCA advice, based on criteria like systemic impact on UK financial integrity, consumers, or markets; reduces coverage by 80-90%, with no distinction between critical/significant/other types or benchmark categories (e.g., interest rate, commodity).
FCA-led firm-facing rules: HMT delegates requirements (governance, conflicts, oversight, methodology transparency, record-keeping) to FCA Handbook; remov
What You Need To Do
- Review current benchmarks for potential designation risk (systemic impact criteria) and map usage across portfolios
- Participate in HMT consultation (responses via gov
- Develop/revise policies for benchmark risk management, including cessation/wind-down plans for regulated/non-regulated benchmarks per future FCA guidance
- Assess transition from current authorisation (if non-designated, prepare for deregistration); overseas firms evaluate ORR eligibility
- Update governance/conflicts frameworks for any designated activities; monitor ESG data inclusion in rules
Key Dates
17 December 2025 - HM Treasury publishes consultation on benchmarks regime reform.
1 January 2026 - Reforms take initial effect; UK becomes only jurisdiction regulating all local benchmarks pre-reform; EU BMR reforms effective, highlighting UK divergence.
Due course 2026 - FCA consults on regulatory requirements for designated administrators/users.
2026 - FCA expected to publish updated guidance on critical benchmarks and implement SABR refinements.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - Significant scope reduction eases burdens but introduces transition risks, new FCA rules, and designation uncertainty; firms must act now on consultation (post-Dec 2025) and prep for 2026 FCA changes to avoid non-compliance during shift, especially with 1 Jan 2026 milestone amplifyin
Asset ManagerBankBroker Dealer The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC) Operations Sub-Committee. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC) Legal Sub-Committee. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC), which is a forum for discussion of the wholesale foreign exchange market. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
In line with the Bank's transition to a repo-led, demand-driven operational framework for providing reserves, the Bank is today announcing a reduction in the spread to Bank Rate of the Operational Standing Facility (OSF). This Market Notice confirms the new, recalibrated spread of the OSF at Bank Rate +15bps for the lending facility and Bank Rate -15bps for the deposit facility. As with all SMF facilities, the OSFs are 'open for business' and should be used by SMF participants for the purpose...
BankWealth ManagerAsset Manager
Given at the ISDA Conference on Trading Book Capital
BankBroker Dealer
The Bank of England welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recognition of the 2024 versions of the FX Global Code and UK Money Markets Code under its code recognition scheme.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
This was the first meeting of the Market Participants Group (MPG), a senior-level forum for financial market participants to share their views on relevant themes and narratives in financial markets with members of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
Given at AFME's 20th Annual European Government Bond Conference
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
The Money Markets Committee is a forum for market participants and authorities to discuss the UK unsecured deposits and funding market and securities lending and repo markets.
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager
This Market Notice confirms that the previously announced increase to the minimum spread over Bank Rate on bids against Level A collateral in the Indexed Long-Term Repo (ILTR) operation will take effect from 17 November 2025.
BankBroker Dealer
The Securities Lending Committee is a forum for market participants and authorities to discuss the UK securities lending market.
Asset ManagerBankBroker Dealer
The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC), which is a forum for discussion of the wholesale foreign exchange market. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC) Legal Sub-Committee. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
The Bank of England chairs the London Foreign Exchange Joint Standing Committee (FXJSC) Operations Sub-Committee. The FXJSC is made up of market participants, infrastructure providers and the UK financial regulators.
BankBroker DealerPayment Provider
Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or any other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to distribute this announcement.
BankAsset ManagerWealth Manager