Nomura fined by ASIC for trader error
Nomura Australia has paid a $30,000 penalty to ASIC after receiving a market infringement penalty from ASIC's Markets Disciplinary Panel.
The decision to fine Nomura stems from two orders to sell the security Alumina Limited (AWC) that resulted in the market for AWC not being "fair and orderly" - breaching rule 5.9.1 of the ASIC Market Integrity Rules.
On 18 March 2011 a Nomura trader sought to enter a 'parent order' (which subsequently splits up the order into smaller 'child' orders that are entered into the market) to sell one million AWC shares at $2.16.
Less than one minute later, the trader entered a second order to sell one million AWC shares at $2.00, under the mistaken belief that the first trade had not registered in the system.
As a result of the second trade, the asking price for AWC decreased by 9 per cent from $2.20 to $2.00.
Nomura did not contest the matter, and ASIC noted that the company has "no recorded non-compliance with the Market Integrity Rules or the prior ASX Market Rules".
However, ASIC found that Nomura "did not have any specific controls in place to prevent an error such as the one in this matter".
Recommended for you
AZ NGA has partnered with an Adelaide-based accounting and financial planning practice as it expands its presence in South Australia.
The central bank has released its decision on the official cash rate following its November monetary policy meeting.
ASIC has cancelled the AFSL of a Melbourne-based managed investment scheme operator over a failure to pay industry levies and meet its statutory audit and financial reporting lodgement obligations.
Melbourne advice firm Hewison Private Wealth has marked four decades of service after making its start in 1985 as a “truly independent advice business” in a largely product-led market.

