Week of July 27 - August 2, 2026

🗓️ July 27, 2026

• Small Business Forum’s Report to Congress Highlights Recommendations to Improve Capital-Raising Policy. Washington D.C. - The Securities and Exchange Commission released a report to Congress summarizing the 45th Annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, which took place on March 9, 2026. The forum featured discussions on early-stage capital raising, growth-stage companies and smaller funds, and small cap companies and the public markets, with policy recommendations developed by participants and responses from the Commission. The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, responsible for hosting the forum, expressed gratitude to all contributors and noted that video archives and a transcript are available online. 🔗 Read more
• ESMA authorises EuroCTP as the Consolidated Tape Provider for shares and exchange-traded funds. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has authorized EuroCTP B.V. to operate as the Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) for shares and ETFs, marking a significant step in enhancing transparency and efficiency in EU equity capital markets. The CTP will consolidate pre-trade and post-trade data from multiple contributors, providing market participants with a comprehensive view of trading activity to support better price discovery and informed investment decisions. EuroCTP will have a transition period until 30 September 2026 to finalize operational arrangements, after which it will operate the consolidated tape for five years under ESMA’s supervision. 🔗 Read more
  

🗓️ July 29, 2026

• Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement. The Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent to support the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate and is continuing its policy of maintaining ample reserves in the banking system. Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty, with strong productivity growth, capital investment, and job gains keeping pace with the workforce. Inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee’s 2 percent goal, partly due to supply shocks, but the Committee is committed to delivering price stability. 🔗 Read more
• SEC Announces Continuation of Small Business Advisory Committee Meeting. Washington D.C. - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that the Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will reconvene on August 6, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET, virtually, on SEC.gov. The committee will continue exploring modernizing public market access and encouraging IPOs and small public company capital formation, including policy recommendations to reduce regulatory friction. The committee provides advice and recommendations to the SEC on rules, regulations, and policy matters relating to small businesses. 🔗 Read more
• SEC Charges Real Estate Investment Trust Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and Founders with Fraud in Alleged $152 Million Scheme. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against RAD Diversified REIT, Inc. and its founders, Brandon “Dutch” Mendenhall and Amy Vaughn, for allegedly raising at least $152 million from over 5,500 retail investors through a fraudulent scheme, misappropriating nearly $5 million of investor funds. The SEC’s complaint details how the defendants deceived investors about RADD’s profitability and stock valuation, falsely claiming no investor losses and diverting approximately $54 million to their entity, The Seminar Solution, LLC, for personal expenses. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement, and civil penalties against the defendants, with the investigation led by Assistant Directors Jason R. Berkowitz and Fernando Torres. 🔗 Read more
• Illegal casino arrests. Two people have been arrested as part of an investigation into an illegal casino in Bristol. A search warrant was executed on Friday 10 July at a premises in Lower College Street by officers from the Harbourside Policing Team, Gambling Commission enforcement officials, and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit. A 36-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of gambling offences and have been released on bail. 🔗 Read more
  

🗓️ July 30, 2026

• Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Iuka Bancshares, Inc. and The Iuka State Bank. The Federal Reserve Board announced an enforcement action involving Iuka Bancshares, Inc. and The Iuka State Bank, both located in Salem, Illinois. A Written Agreement was dated July 15, 2026. 🔗 Read more
• Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement actions with former employee of Regions Bank and former employee of First Interstate Bank. The Federal Reserve Board announced enforcement actions against Simon Alberto Gonzalez, a former employee of Regions Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, for misappropriating customer funds, and Ralph A. Mojica, a former employee of First Interstate Bank in Billings, Montana, for misappropriating customer funds and embezzling bank funds. Both individuals have been issued consent prohibition orders. 🔗 Read more
• CFTC Seeks Public Comment on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Concerning Affiliations Among Certain CFTC-Regulated Entities. Washington - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on amendments to several parts of its regulations, addressing the growth in affiliations between CFTC-regulated entities and potential conflicts of interest. Chairman Michael S. Selig stated that the proposal aims to support responsible innovation in U.S. derivatives markets by establishing principles-based regulations that enhance market integrity without hindering new market structures or imposing excessive compliance costs. Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. 🔗 Read more
• EIOPA’s risk dashboard for occupational pension funds highlights persistent market risks amid geopolitically complex environment. The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) released its July 2026 Risk Dashboard, highlighting that persistent geopolitical uncertainty and evolving global market conditions continue to shape the risk landscape for the European occupational pensions sector, with market risks remaining a key concern. Despite these challenges, Europe’s IORP sector remains resilient, supported by robust financial positions for Defined Benefit (DB) schemes and positive portfolio performance. However, the 12-month risk outlook is worsening due to concerns over a potential broader market correction, elevated valuations, and a possible reassessment of risk premia linked to renewed geopolitical tensions. 🔗 Read more
• Digital euro app to incorporate highest accessibility standards. The European Central Bank (ECB) has outlined the accessibility features of the digital euro app, emphasizing that accessibility and inclusion are core design principles. The app will include advanced features that exceed the requirements of the European Accessibility Act, such as enhanced visual design, full keyboard navigation, and screen reader support, to address common barriers faced by users with different needs. Usability and accessibility testing will be conducted during the digital euro pilot in 2027, with input from consumer organizations and national central banks, to ensure a consistent and inclusive user experience. 🔗 Read more
  

🗓️ July 31, 2026

• Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to modernize its rule governing the extension of credit to bank "insiders”- bank executives, board members and major shareholders who could potentially influence a bank's lending decisions. The Federal Reserve Board has proposed updating Regulation O, which governs credit extensions to bank insiders, to modernize outdated thresholds while maintaining safeguards against preferential treatment. This update, the first comprehensive change since 1979, aims to address challenges faced by community banks by indexing thresholds to economic growth and simplifying the rule’s application. Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman emphasized the proposal’s role in recognizing the value of local business leaders on bank boards and ensuring effective governance. 🔗 Read more
• Federal Reserve Board requests comment on a proposal to modernize rules for mutual banking organizations. The Federal Reserve Board requested comment on a proposal to modernize rules for mutual banking organizations, which are owned by depositors rather than shareholders, with more than 90 percent having less than $3 billion in total assets. The rules, established in 1993 and assumed by the Board in 2011, have not been updated and are considered overly burdensome. The proposal aims to update these regulations for the first time in 30 years, allowing mutual banks to grow and serve communities while preserving their depositor-owned structure, by clarifying regulatory capital instruments and reducing procedural burdens. 🔗 Read more
• CFTC Orders George Santos to Pay $35,000 for Manipulative Trading of State-of-the-Union Event Contract. Washington - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced charges against former Congressman George Santos for manipulative activity in an event contract he controlled, designed to affect the price of the swap. Santos must disgorge $17,569.98 in profits and pay a $17,500 penalty, agreeing to a cease and desist from further violations and a three-year trading ban. Between February 12, 2026, and February 25, 2026, Santos traded a contract on his attendance at the 2026 State of the Union, making misleading social media posts that influenced contract prices in his favor. 🔗 Read more
• ICYMI: Members of the CFTC’s Agricultural Advisory Committee Join Chairman Selig in Washington at First Meeting of 2026. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission held its first Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting of 2026 in Washington, where discussions included the Basel III proposal, risk management tools for agricultural end users, 24/7 trading, emerging markets, and recent CFTC activities. Key speakers included CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig, Senator Tommy Tuberville, and AAC Chairman Ed Prosser, with presentations from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and CFTC Division of Data Director Jessica Harris. The meeting concluded with a panel on risk management tools and a presentation on perpetual futures’ funding rate mechanism. 🔗 Read more
• FDIC Publishes June Enforcement Actions. Washington - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) published a list of 15 administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in June 2026, including one consent order, four orders terminating consent orders, one combined consent order and order to pay, two orders of prohibition, two orders to pay civil money penalties, and five orders of termination of insurance. No administrative hearings are scheduled for August 2026. For more details, visit the FDIC’s web page. 🔗 Read more
• Joint Statement of Enforcement Policy in support of Venezuela’s Economic Recovery and Earthquake Relief Efforts. Washington - The staffs of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are issuing a statement of enforcement policy to support U.S. Government efforts in Venezuela, including humanitarian relief and reconstruction after the June 24, 2026, earthquakes. The Agencies commit not to take supervisory or enforcement actions against supervised financial institutions for providing authorized financial services in Venezuela from July 31, 2026, through January 29, 2027, provided these institutions comply with BSA Requirements and OFAC sanctions regulations. This commitment aims to ensure that financial institutions can facilitate humanitarian aid without fear of regulatory penalties, except for knowing, willful, or intentional violations. 🔗 Read more
• Agencies Issue Joint Proposal Amending the Community Reinvestment Act Rules. Washington - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation proposed changes to their Community Reinvestment Act rules to better align with the statutory mandate, ensure community development grants reach intended communities, reduce bank burdens, and provide clarity on CRA consideration. The proposed rules would focus on lending, exclude deposit services from credit service considerations, and exempt banks with $10 billion or less in assets from certain data requirements, while streamlining other requirements for banks of all sizes. Despite adopting final rules on October 24, 2023, they were enjoined by a U.S. District Court order. 🔗 Read more
• FDIC Board Approves Proposal to Amend Regulations Regarding Lending Limits for Bank Insiders. Washington - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors approved a notice of proposed rulemaking to raise and index lending limits for executive officers and other insiders of FDIC-supervised institutions, aligning them with the Federal Reserve’s Regulation O proposal. The proposed rule aims to update dollar thresholds to reflect inflation and economic growth, streamline compliance, and allow for future automatic adjustments. These changes are intended to standardize compliance and prevent disparate treatment between FDIC-supervised institutions and other insured depository institutions. 🔗 Read more
• The EBA-ECB-EIOPA “Data Point Model Alliance” consults on improvements to their data dictionary metamodel to better support statistical and supervisory reporting. The Data Point Model Alliance, a joint initiative of the EBA, ECB, and EIOPA, is launching a public consultation on enhancements to their DPM metamodel for two months to simplify, smarten, and make financial sector reporting across the EU more proportionate. DPM 2.1, the new version of the DPM metadata model, supports integrated European reporting across all regulatory frameworks, reducing complexity, improving data quality, and lowering reporting costs. Additionally, the DPM Alliance is publishing naming conventions to enhance consistency across regulatory reporting frameworks, supporting the effective use of the common data dictionary. 🔗 Read more
• EBA, EIOPA and ESMA call for enhanced governance and consistent supervision to mitigate ICT risks from frontier AI models in the EU financial sector. The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA) have published a statement advocating for a cross-sectoral, risk-based, and consistent supervisory approach to address ICT risks from frontier AI models. The statement emphasizes the need for financial entities to have strong governance and risk management frameworks, focusing on prevention, detection, and management of cyber risks, and updates on DORA oversight activities for critical ICT third-party providers. The ESAs encourage using the statement for supervisory dialogue to ensure the EU financial system’s resilience against risks from frontier AI technologies. 🔗 Read more
• ESMA publishes latest edition of its newsletter. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released its Spotlight on Markets newsletter for June and July 2026, highlighting the end of the MiCA transitional period and urging unauthorised crypto-asset service providers to wind down operations. Key news includes a final report on simplifying transaction reporting, which could save up to €1 billion annually, and ESMA’s call for firms to prepare for T+1 settlement deadlines. The edition also features the ESAs’ first annual report on major ICT-related incidents under DORA, a consultation on simplifying the EU Taxonomy disclosure framework, and ESMA’s authorisation of EuroCTP as the Consolidated Tape Provider for shares and ETFs. 🔗 Read more