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CFTC Exemptive Relief for Cross-Margining CME FICC Customer Positions

The CFTC issued an order providing exemptive relief from the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations related to segregation and protection of futures customer funds. The order permits dually registered broker-dealer/futures commission merchants (BD-FCMs) that are joint clearing members of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation to hold futures customer funds in a commingled customer account at FICC.

OFAC Designations: 7 Individuals and 3 Entities Under Nicaragua Sanctions Program

OFAC added 7 individuals and 3 entities to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List under Executive Order 13851. Designations include Nicaraguan government officials, gold sector miners, and associated companies operating in Nicaragua. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Exemptive Relief for Cross-Margining Positions at FICC

The CFTC issued an order pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act permitting broker-dealer/futures commission merchants (BD-FCMs) that are joint clearing members of CME and FICC to hold futures customer funds in a commingled customer account at FICC. The order modifies existing segregation requirements to enable customer cross-margining and is effective April 15, 2026. Five comment letters were received during the consultation period, and the order was issued subject to specified conditions.

Restrictions on INR Derivative Contracts with Related Parties

The Reserve Bank of India has withdrawn A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 03 dated April 01, 2026 and imposed new restrictions on Authorised Dealers regarding foreign exchange derivative contracts involving Indian Rupees (INR) with related parties. Authorised Dealers are now prohibited from undertaking any such contracts with related parties except for cancellation and rollover of existing contracts, or back-to-back transactions with non-related non-resident users under the Master Direction - Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings. The definition of 'related parties' follows Ind AS 24 or IAS 24 accounting standards. The instructions are effective immediately.

New Intraday Margin Standards Replace Day Trading Rules

FINRA has adopted amendments to Rule 4210 establishing new intraday margin standards to replace in their entirety the outdated day trading margin requirements. The amendments take effect June 4, 2026, with an 18-month phase-in period ending October 20, 2027. The new rule eliminates the $25,000 pattern day trader minimum equity requirement and pattern day trader designation, replacing them with a system based on real-time intraday margin deficit calculations.

Transaction Processing System - Blockskye Inc - EP4281921A1

The European Patent Office granted patent application EP4281921A1 titled 'System and Method for Processing Transactions' to Blockskye, Inc. The patent covers transaction processing technology and was published on April 8, 2026. It is classified under IPC G06Q 20/40, G06Q 20/02, and G06Q 10/00, covering business methods in commerce and financial transactions.

Single-Stock ETFs and 2x Leverage Approved for Korean Market

The Financial Services Commission has approved revisions to the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, allowing single-stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and single-stock ETNs for the first time in Korea. The rules take effect April 28, 2026, with leveraged ETFs capped at 200% (2x) exposure and tracking only blue-chip stocks meeting strict criteria including minimum market cap ratio of 10%, minimum trading volume of 5%, investment grade rating, and minimum derivatives trading volume of 1%.

Konark Urban Co-operative Bank Directive Extended to July 23, 2026

The Reserve Bank of India has extended restrictions imposed on The Konark Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ulhasnagar for a further three months. The directive, originally issued under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, is now effective through close of business on July 23, 2026. All other terms and conditions of the original directive remain unchanged.

SICVECA Credit Data Fourth Version Effective January 2024

SUGEF CR published Circular SGF-2599-2023 on October 4, 2023, requiring supervised financial entities to implement the fourth version of SICVECA credit and guarantee data documentation effective January 1, 2024. The new data classes 51 (Credit) and 52 (Guarantees) replace legacy classes 3 and 15, with updated XML/XSD schemas and validation rules. Entities must also adopt the CIIU 4 Industrial Classification code catalog starting January 2024 data submissions.

Nuevos Formatos de Autorización Crediticia para el CIC Versión 3.0

SUGEF CR issued Circular SGF-2999-2020 mandating all supervised financial entities—commercial banks, private banks, non-bank financial companies, and cooperative credit organizations—to use new specific credit authorization forms (version 3.0) when processing CIC consultations related to economic interest groups. The circular modifies existing authorization formats and takes effect immediately upon communication, superseding prior procedures for credit concentration control under the Organic Law of the Central Bank.

Statute of the National Bank of Serbia

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has adopted its Statute, published in Official Gazette No. 47/2025. The Statute establishes the legal framework for the NBS as Serbia's central bank, defines its three governing bodies (Executive Board, Governor, and Council of the Governor), and sets rules for representation, administrative decision-making, and the use of seal, stamp, and logo.

Law on National Bank of Serbia, Consolidated Version

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) published a consolidated version of its founding Law, incorporating amendments from 2003 through 2025. The Law establishes NBS as an autonomous and independent central bank, primary objective of price stability, and enumerates powers including monetary policy, banking supervision, payment systems, insurance supervision, and financial system stability. The consolidated text brings together all amendments into a single reference document.

FDIC Rescinds Supervisory Guidance on Multiple Re-Presentment NSF Fees

The FDIC has rescinded Financial Institution Letter FIL-32-2023, which described the agency's supervisory approach for FDIC-supervised institutions that assess multiple non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees arising from the re-presentment of the same unpaid transaction. The rescission is effective immediately. This action applies to all FDIC-supervised financial institutions.

Interaction Method and Apparatus for Content Distribution Item Recommendation

USPTO published patent application US20260099872A1, filed December 24, 2024, covering an interaction method for item distribution in content platforms. The method includes recommending items to users for content distribution, establishing binding relationships between users and item distribution centers, and presenting item links corresponding to content distribution regions upon publication. CPC classifications are G06Q 30/0631 and G06Q 30/0639.

Product Recommendation Systems and Methods

USPTO published patent application US20260099870A1 titled 'Product Recommendation Systems and Methods' on April 9, 2026. The application, filed October 1, 2025, covers systems and methods for product recommendations involving user selections and online searches with property modifications. Inventors are Daniel Joseph Arcand Cary and Brad William Rathke.

Repeating Verification of a User

USPTO published Patent Application US20260099869A1 for a user verification system invented by John Backus and Faris Toqan. The system handles repeating verification of users who previously underwent a verification procedure, generating GUIs for verification operations with failed outcomes and using new input for failed operations while retaining old input for successful operations. The patent application was filed on December 1, 2025.

Financial Companies Allowed Cloud SaaS Without Sandbox from April 20

The Financial Services Commission announced that revised rules on the supervision of electronic financial services went into effect on April 20, 2026, allowing financial companies and electronic financial service providers to adopt cloud-based Software as a Service for internal administrative and back office functions without sandbox approval. The exemption from the network separation rule applies to SaaS programs specified under the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Development of Cloud Computing, subject to compliance with enhanced security requirements.

Dell Meeting Scheduling Patent US12602664B2 Granted Apr 14

The USPTO granted Dell Products L.P. Patent US12602664B2 for an intelligent meeting timeslot analysis and recommendation system that uses machine learning to predict attendee meeting acceptance levels and determine overall meeting acceptance likelihood. The patent contains 20 claims under CPC classification G06Q 10/10 and was filed on March 14, 2023.

Chemical Tracking System with Environmental Attributes - BASF SE

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4453820A1 by BASF SE titled 'Outbound - Chemical Product with Environmental Attributes'. The patent covers a chemical tracking system incorporating environmental attribute data across the supply chain, with classification under business methods (G06Q) and network security protocols (H04L). The patent is designated across 33 European member states including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and other EPO member countries.

Product Distribution System for Laundry Services (EP4295294A1)

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4295294A1 for a Product Distribution System for Laundry Services. The patent was filed by South Pacific Laundry (Melbourne) Pty Ltd with inventors HAYES Isaac, HAYES Ray, and KRIGSMAN Ian. The invention covers systems and methods for managing product distribution in laundry service operations, including inventory management, access control, and security tag integration.

RMLO Military Licensing Requirements (7 TAC § 55.110)

The Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending adopted amendments to 7 TAC § 55.110, governing RMLO licensing for military service members, military veterans, and military spouses. The adopted rule takes effect November 16, 2025, and will be published in the Texas Register. Affected mortgage lenders and originating entities in Texas must ensure compliance with the updated licensing provisions for military applicants.

FINRA Rule 4210 Intraday Margin Requirements Replaces Day Trading Rules

The SEC approved a FINRA proposed rule change to amend Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements), eliminating pattern day trader designation and the associated $25,000 minimum equity requirement, and replacing these with new intraday margin standards based on real-time market exposure. Broker-dealers may implement either real-time monitoring to block trades creating margin deficits or end-of-day deficit calculations. The rule takes effect upon publication.

Long-Term Stock Exchange Amendment No. 1 Approved Regarding Complimentary Products and Services

The SEC granted accelerated approval to Long-Term Stock Exchange's Amendment No. 1 to File No. SR-LTSE-2025-31 regarding complimentary products and services offered by the exchange. The approval was granted under Release No. 34-105243. This is a final agency action on an SRO rule change filing.

FINRA Rule 4210 Amendment Replaces Day Trading Margin Provisions With Intraday Margin Standards

The SEC granted accelerated approval of FINRA Amendment No. 1 to Rule 4210, replacing existing day trading margin provisions with new intraday margin standards. The rule change, filed under SR-FINRA-2025-017, was approved effective April 17, 2026. Broker-dealers will be subject to updated margin requirements that differ from the previous day trading framework.

EV Charging Control System With Integrated Billing Selection

The USPTO published patent application US20260097680A1 by Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha for a charging control system integrating billing selection with scheduled charging settings. The system selects PnC billing when scheduled charging is invalid and EIM billing when scheduled charging is valid. The application was filed September 4, 2025.

Managing Financial Accounts in Low-Cash Mode

The USPTO has published patent application US20260099831A1 for a system that manages financial accounts in low-cash mode. The system notifies users when account balances fall below a threshold, presents transfer options, and executes automatic fund transfers between accounts to maintain adequate balances. Inventors include Urich T. Bowers, Mecal McDade, Todd Tkach, Mike Kirch, Eric Romantino, and Matthew Barrett.

Machine Learning Reservation Data Management System

The USPTO published patent application US20260099775A1 for a machine learning system that renders combined views of static contracted inventory and dynamic shared reserve inventory using time-based decay logit outputs. The system generates constrained views of available offers for re-allocating reservation data objects. The application was filed on October 7, 2025, by six inventors and published on April 9, 2026.

Digital Currency Voucher Generation Patent Granted to People's Bank of China

The USPTO granted patent US12602683B2 to Digital Currency Institute (People's Bank of China) covering methods and systems for generating, verifying, and storing digital currency transaction vouchers. The patent describes acquiring blockchain-style chain structure data in response to transaction requests and generating denomination-specific transaction vouchers with cryptographic sub-chains for traceability and security. The patent contains 18 claims and was filed on March 21, 2022.

Digital Currency Wallet Remote Control System

The USPTO granted patent US12602680B2 to the Digital Currency Institute of the People's Bank of China covering digital currency wallet management and remote control systems. The patent describes methods for detecting offline states with a digital currency platform, using satellite communication to obtain timestamps, calculating offline duration against a preset threshold, and generating wallet key information sets for synchronization when the threshold is exceeded. The patent contains 20 claims and was filed on October 17, 2022 under application number 18703354.

US12602692B2 - Systems and Methods for Decreasing Counterparty Settlement Risk Using Time-Weighted Index Averages for Cryptocurrency Swaps

The USPTO granted Patent US12602692B2 to MARA Holdings, Inc. on April 14, 2026. The patent covers apparatus, systems, and methods for improving efficiency in transacting swaps or other futures-based financial instruments by using time-weighted index averages to decrease counterparty settlement risk. In preferred embodiments, the swaps are based upon a time-weighted index average of multiple instances of cryptocurrency mining difficulty over multiple time periods derived from decentralized public blockchain data.

Validvent Technology GmbH Crypto-Asset Service Provider Authorization

The Austrian FMA granted authorization to Validvent Technology GmbH as a crypto-asset service provider pursuant to Article 63 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCAR) by administrative decision dated 14.04.2026. The company is now authorized to provide advice on crypto-assets.

FinCEN Amends CIBanco Special Measure to Permit Mexico Liquidation Payments

FinCEN issued an order amending its June 2025 special measure prohibiting certain transmittals of funds involving CIBanco S.A., a Mexico-based commercial bank. The amendment authorizes covered financial institutions to process transmittals necessary for the Government of Mexico to liquidate CIBanco, provided the Mexican government's appointed liquidator determines such transmittals are necessary and they are not otherwise prohibited by law. The original order found CIBanco of primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking by Mexico-based drug cartels.

SEC Approves CME Securities Clearing Governance Charter Changes

The SEC approved CME Securities Clearing Inc.'s proposed modifications to its governance framework, including By-Laws, Board Charter, Risk Management Committee Charter, and other committee charters. The approved changes modify board structure from a staggered to a unitary board elected annually, provide flexibility in initial director composition, and add Enterprise Risk Management Framework oversight to the Risk Management Committee. The changes facilitate CMESC's governance implementation as a newly registered clearing agency.

Medicare IPPS and LTCH PPS FY 2027 Rates and Quality Program Requirements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published final policies for Medicare's Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System for Fiscal Year 2027. The rule updates acute care hospital payment rates, LTCH payment rates, and establishes policy changes affecting hospital reimbursement. The regulation also addresses requirements for hospital quality reporting programs.

BASF SE Chemical Product Passport Patent EP4454211A1

The European Patent Office published BASF SE's patent application EP4454211A1 for a chemical product passport system managing recyclate content data and bio-based content data. The invention, classified under G06Q business methods, enables tracking and certification of recycled and bio-based materials in chemical products. The patent names Henning Schwabe, Andreas Wollny, and Dennis Haardt as inventors and designates 27 European states.

Privacy-Preserving Content Delivery (EP4413523A1)

EPO published patent application EP4413523A1 by Google LLC titled 'Privacy-Preserving Content Delivery' in the G06Q 30/0251 classification. The patent covers methods and systems for delivering content to users while preserving privacy, with inventors including Rishav Anand, Steven Avery, Akhil Dhavala, and Sittichai Jiampojamarn.

Review of NPO Registration and ZCZP Minimum Subscription Requirements

SEBI has reviewed and amended requirements for Not for Profit Organization registration on the Social Stock Exchange and the minimum subscription requirement for issuance of Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments. The amendments affect NPOs seeking to raise funds through the Social Stock Exchange platform and issuers of ZCZP instruments. Circular No. HO/49/14/(10)2026-CFD-POD1/I/9380/2026 specifies the updated compliance requirements.

Imposition of Special Measure Prohibiting Certain Transmittals of Funds Involving CIBanco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple; Amendment

FinCEN is amending the order published at 90 FR 27770 (June 30, 2025), as subsequently amended, to impose a special measure prohibiting certain transmittals of funds involving CIBanco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple. The amendment takes effect as of April 16, 2026. Financial institutions and other parties engaged in transmittals of funds must comply with this prohibition regarding CIBanco.

Order to Further Strengthen U.S. Treasury Market Liquidity

The CFTC approved an exemptive order enabling Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation to extend their existing cross-margining arrangement to certain customers. The order permits joint clearing members dually registered as SEC broker-dealers and CFTC futures commission merchants to hold futures customer funds in a commingled customer account at FICC. Previously, only clearing members could cross-margin futures positions in U.S. Treasury securities with cash market positions cleared at FICC.

RBI Amends NBFC Branch Authorisation Directions

The Reserve Bank of India has issued Amendment Directions amending the NBFC Branch Authorisation Directions, 2025, effective immediately. The amendments provide operational flexibility for Non-Banking Financial Companies to open branches without prior RBI approval, unless specifically restricted. Key changes include substitution of Paragraph 3(1) clarifying applicability to various NBFC categories, renaming the subsection heading, and modifying Paragraphs 5 and 6 governing branch opening requirements.

National Bank Belgium Sets 1.25% Countercyclical Buffer for Q2 2026

The National Bank of Belgium has set the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) rate at 1.25% for Q2 2026, effective 1 April 2026. This decision applies to all Belgian credit institutions supervised by the NBB. The CCyB is a macroprudential tool under the Basel III framework used to moderate credit cycles and strengthen financial system resilience.

RBI Issues Amendment Directions on NBFC Branch Authorisation

The Reserve Bank of India has issued the RBI (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Branch Authorisation) Amendment Directions, 2026, effective April 15, 2026. The amendments modify extant guidelines on branch opening for various categories of NBFCs including Housing Finance Companies. The directions also update relevant provisions in the NBFC Acceptance of Public Deposits Directions, 2025 and Housing Finance Companies Directions, 2025.

Imposition of Special Measure Prohibiting Certain Transmittals of Funds Involving CIBanco S.A.

FinCEN has imposed a special measure prohibiting certain transmittals of funds involving CIBanco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple, a Mexican financial institution. The action, designated as a Final Rule, targets suspected money laundering activity and restricts US financial institutions from processing certain fund transfers involving the named entity. Financial institutions must immediately cease transmittals of funds involving CIBanco S.A. unless exempted.

Decision No 1/2026 Amending Protocol I of UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Union Programme Participation

The Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement has adopted Decision No 1/2026, amending Protocol I of the Agreement. The Decision modifies provisions governing UK participation in EU programmes. This amendment affects the legal framework for continued UK engagement with EU programme opportunities established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

ESMA Guidelines on Liquidity Management Tools for UCITS and AIFs

The CSSF issued Circular 26/910 on 15 April 2026, informing Luxembourg investment fund managers of ESMA Guidelines on Liquidity Management Tools (LMTs) for UCITS and open-ended AIFs (reference ESMA34-67-1404336-1364). The guidelines apply to investment fund managers managing UCITS, specialised investment funds (SIFs), and Part II UCIs under the Law of 17 December 2010. Regulated entities are expected to apply the guidelines within six months of the circular's publication date.

CBOE Options Dow Jones P.M. Settlement Rule Change Approved

The SEC approved CBOE Exchange's proposed rule change to permit options on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX) to be P.M.-settled. The Exchange filed the proposal on January 8, 2026, and the SEC approved it on April 10, 2026, after considering Amendment No. 3 which superseded prior amendments. The rule change amends Exchange Rules 4.13 and 5.1.

Nasdaq Extended Trading Hours to 23 Hours Daily, Five Days Weekly

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued Release No. 34-105199 granting accelerated approval of Nasdaq's proposed rule change to extend trading hours for NMS stocks to 23 hours per day, five days per week. The amendments (Nos. 2 and 3) superseded the original filing, and the Commission approved the extended trading hours proposal on an accelerated basis after receiving public comments.