Will 2025 See A Steep Change In SFDR?

The Financial Conduct Authority has released comprehensive perimeter guidance for the UK's new regulated cryptoasset activities regime, clarifying when firms will need authorization and how the regulatory framework applies to qualifying cryptoassets and stablecoins. The guidance addresses critical questions about scope, territorial application, and the narrower "by way of business" test that determines which entities fall under the new regulatory requirements.

Islamic finance is experiencing rapid global expansion, with assets approaching US$6tn and record sukuk issuance attracting non-traditional investors. The convergence of Shariah-compliant and sustainable investing is creating new opportunities, while AAOIFI Standard No. 62 and tokenisation developments are reshaping how Islamic finance structures are designed and implemented across international markets.

The Financial Conduct Authority has released a comprehensive package of regulatory updates and findings covering investment management, wealth management, and consumer protection. Key developments include reforms to MiFID costs and charges disclosures, remuneration code changes, AIFM regime overhauls, and detailed reviews of firms' Consumer Duty compliance, financial crime controls, and governance frameworks.

In July 2017, the FCA published its Enforcement annual performance account for 2016/17.

The London Stock Exchange has implemented sweeping reforms to the AIM Rules, fundamentally reshaping admission requirements, transaction thresholds, and governance obligations for companies on the Alternative Investment Market. These changes eliminate longstanding requirements like working capital statements and corporate governance codes while introducing new features such as capital access windows and special voting shares, marking the most significant overhaul of AIM regulations in recent years.

Cryptoasset firms face a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape as the FCA's authorisation gateway opens on 30 September 2026. With the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 laid before Parliament and the FCA's finalised PERG 18 guidance published within 24 hours, firms must navigate significant perimeter changes including new stablecoin payment exclusions.

On 14 July 2026, HM Treasury published its long-awaited consultation on modernising the UK’s payment services and electronic money regulatory framework. The consultation is part of the Government’s National Payments Vision agenda, which aims to ensure that the UK has a trusted, world-leading payments ecosystem delivered on next generation technology, while preserving choice for consumers and businesses.

This weekly bulletin examines critical developments in UK financial regulation, including the FCA's findings on systemic operational resilience from its Defence, Security, and Resilience Lab exercise, the government's comprehensive consultation on modernising corporate reporting frameworks, and progress on the Financial Services and Markets Bill through Parliament. The bulletin also covers international regulatory updates on cyber resilience for financial market infrastructures, sustainable finance disclosu

The European Parliament has published its negotiating position on SFDR 2.0, setting the stage for trilogue negotiations between the Commission, Parliament and Council. With the asset management industry hoping for relief from the complexities of SFDR 1.0, the Parliament's proposals claim to simplify the regime while maintaining credibility of sustainability-related investments.

Challenger banks have achieved a great deal of success since they burst on the scene in a big way a decade or so ago to vie with traditional retail banks for a share of the market.

As we look ahead to 2025, the landscape of debt financing and M&A activity is poised for significant transformation.

On June 1, 2023, China's Ministry of Science and Technology (the "MOST") issued the long-awaited Implementing Rules on the Administrative Regulations on Human Genetic Resources...

A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Court Judge Loretta A. Preska on March 19, 2019.

On 31 October 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published the outcome of a multi-firm review into consolidation across the financial advice and wealth management sector.

Yesterday saw another big addition to the U.S. UFLPA Entity List, the largest to date. The Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force...

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has successfully defended the first challenge to its new power to require individuals to explain how they have acquired assets which it suspects may represent the proceeds of crime.

In the United States Supreme Court’s historic decision announced today, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA") has emerged substantially intact as the blueprint for national health reform in the coming years.

China will launch further reforms in the pharmaceutical sector as part of the healthcare reform initiatives announced by the State Council in its February 9, 2017 Circular on Several Opinions Concerning Further Reforms of the Policies Governing Drug Production, Circulation and Usage (the "Circular No.13").

Today, the Patent Trial & Appeal Bord designated two decisions informative that apply the so-called "Fintiv factors."

Extradition from Japan is rare, and even more so for Japanese nationals in connection with white collar offenses. But on April 17, 2019,