Daily · US Sanctions & Market Reporting Shifts · July 1, 2026

US Sanctions and Blocking Orders

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued several updates to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list. This includes adding new individuals and entities, as well as updating identifying information for existing entries. For businesses, this is a critical operational alert: all property and interests in property of these designated parties within US jurisdiction are now blocked. Engaging in transactions with these individuals is generally prohibited, meaning firms must immediately screen their client and vendor databases to avoid severe penalties and legal exposure.

Financial Supervision and Regulatory Optimisation

In Switzerland, FINMA has signaled its support for a new working group established by the Federal Department of Finance aimed at "optimising" financial market regulation. While currently in the early stages, this move suggests a strategic shift toward refining the Swiss regulatory framework to improve efficiency or competitiveness. Businesses operating in Switzerland should monitor this development, as "optimisation" often leads to revised licensing requirements or streamlined reporting obligations that could lower the cost of compliance.

US Market Structure and Reporting Changes

The US is seeing a wave of technical adjustments to trading and reporting. The CFTC is proposing a new framework for reporting data on fully collateralized event contracts, shifting the requirements for reporting markets and brokers. This is a significant operational change that will require firms to update their reporting pipelines to remain compliant.

Simultaneously, the SEC has approved several market adjustments, including extended trading hours for eligible equity and index options at Nasdaq MRX, which expands the window for executing trades. Other updates include new fee schedules for consolidated equity market data and rule changes at Cboe and Investors Exchange regarding binary options and order book identification. These changes collectively impact trading costs and the speed at which market data is disseminated.

Procedural Updates

Routine administrative changes include new panel chair appointments at the UK’s FCA and a new Management Board member at the EU’s ESMA.

This overview is informational, not legal or compliance advice. Consult your lawyer or compliance specialist on specific decisions.

Sources

This overview is based on official regulator publications for the period: