ASIC suspends Direct FX’S AFS licence


The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has suspended the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of Direct FX Trading for a minimum of ten weeks and up to six months, depending on whether the company can demonstrate compliance with the conditions attached to its licence by October this year.
The AFS licence was suspended following an ASIC investigation that found Direct FX had failed to comply with its Net Tangible Asset (NTA) requirements, including not having sufficient cash and cash equivalents.
Direct FX also failed to comply with a section 912C (3) direction, issued in February this year, which required it to give ASIC an audit report that included information about the company’s compliance with its financial obligations. It also failed to replace key persons named on its licence.
ASIC commissioner Cathie Armour said Direct FX was in breach of important financial conditions of its licence, which is aimed at protecting investors from the higher operational and credit risks posed by the retail OTC derivative sector.
“When ASIC was trying to conduct its enquiries, the entity did not cooperate in a timely and efficient fashion that we would expect of licensees, and failed to comply with ASIC directions,” said Armour.
ASIC said the suspension would also affect the financial services provided by Direct FX’s authorised representative, Core Liquidity Markets.
Recommended for you
A financial advice firm has been penalised $11 million in the Federal Court for providing ‘cookie cutter advice’ to its clients and breaching conflicted remuneration rules.
Insignia Financial has experienced total quarterly net outflows of $1.8 billion as a result of client rebalancing, while its multi-asset flows halved from the prior quarter.
Prime Financial is looking to shed its “sleeping giant” reputation with larger M&A transactions going forward, having agreed to acquire research firm Lincoln Indicators.
An affiliate of Pinnacle Investment Management has expanded its reach with a London office as the fund manager seeks to grow its overseas distribution into the UK and Europe.