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Regulatory

ASIC returns $40m of CFD losses

ELIZA BAVIN  |  TUESDAY, 20 JAN 2026
ASIC has secured the return of nearly $40 million to more than 38,000 investors after a whole of industry review found the CFD sector had "widespread weaknesses".

MWL complainants given $100k in lead decision outcome

MATTHEW WAI  |  MONDAY, 19 JAN 2026
AFCA has finalised its review of MWL Financial Services' lead decision, confirming the business, which is in liquidation, did not act in the complainant's best interest.

Advisers 'positioned to thrive' in 2026

ANGELIQUE MINAS  |  THURSDAY, 15 JAN 2026
Financial advisers' 2026 prospects orbit around the evolving regulatory landscape, positioning and sector focus, and portfolio construction and global allocation.

ASIC seeks feedback on updating financial reports relief guidance

MATTHEW WAI  |  TUESDAY, 13 JAN 2026
ASIC has commenced a consultation on updating the Regulatory Guide 43 Financial reports and audit relief (RG 43), to ensure clarity in granting relief from the financial record-keeping, financial reporting, and audit requirements.

ASIC sues BDO Audit for misleading statements

MATTHEW WAI  |  MONDAY, 5 JAN 2026
Ahead of Christmas, ASIC commenced civil penalty proceedings against BDO Audit (WA) and its director Dean Just alleging it made misleading statements, while failing to take reasonable steps to ensure reports were factually accurate for an ASX-listed ...

Diversa hit with additional licence conditions

ELIZA BAVIN  |  TUESDAY, 23 DEC 2025
Diversa said it "does not accept" APRA's reasons for imposing the conditions and does not consider the measures to be "necessary or warranted".

Pump and dump conspirators sentenced

MATTHEW WAI  |  TUESDAY, 23 DEC 2025
The four people who conspired in a pump and dump scheme were delivered their sentences at the Sydney District Court, ASIC said.

Adviser of MWL, UGC banned for seven years

MATTHEW WAI  |  MONDAY, 22 DEC 2025
Melbourne-based financial adviser Louis Van Coppenhagen has been banned from providing financial services for seven years over a series of misconduct when he was an authorised representative of MWL Financial Services and United Global Capital.

Macquarie Securities to pay $35m for misleading data reporting

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  FRIDAY, 19 DEC 2025
Macquarie Securities (Australia) Limited (MSAL), the broking arm of Macquarie Group, has admitted to misreporting millions of short sales over several years and has agreed with ASIC to pay a $35 million fine.

Netwealth to spend $101m compensating First Guardian victims

JAMIE WILLIAMSON  |  THURSDAY, 18 DEC 2025
After admitting it didn't sufficiently assess the First Guardian Master Fund before making it available to super members, Netwealth is being sued by ASIC and will repay $101 million to victims.