Market Abuse / Surveillance regulatory updates from Australia.
We track 36 Market Abuse / Surveillance updates from Australia regulators, published by ASIC. The archive covers 25 enforcement actions, 4 reports and 3 news items. Most recent update: October 2026.
ASIC statement – Prediction markets
Why this matters
The document is an official statement attributed to the ASIC Chair, so it fits 'speech' rather than a formal policy statement or rule. It states ASIC's current position, which draws a parallel to the binary options retail ban.
Former Rex director Lim Kim Hai disqualified for 4 years and ordered to pay $800,000 penalty for directors’ duties and continuous disclosure contraventions
The NSW Supreme Court disqualified former Rex CEO and executive chair Lim Kim Hai from managing corporations for four years and ordered him to pay an $800,000 pecuniary penalty after he admitted breaching his directors’ duty under section 180(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 and being involved in Rex’s continuous disclosure contraventions under section 674A(3). The outcome reinforces that senior executives may face personal liability where market announcements are inaccurate or are not corrected promptly, although the related proceedings against three former non-executive directors were unsuccessful.
This is an enforcement outcome rather than a new rule or amended obligation. The Court approved a four-year disqualification under sections 206C and 206E of the Corporations Act 2001 and an $800,000 pecuniary penalty under section 1317G(1), with payment required within 28 days of the order. The case establishes a significant practical compliance signal for listed entities: directors and senior officers may be personally exposed where they fail to take reasonable steps to ensure accurate market disclosure, including correcting guidance that has become misleading or lacks reasonable grounds.
The outcome is serious for listed-company governance because it combines a four-year personal disqualification with an $800,000 penalty and legal-costs exposure for conduct connected with a market announcement and subsequent failure to meet continuous disclosure obligations. It also shows that enforcement risk is not limited to the corporate issuer: senior directors may be personally sanctioned where their involvement or failure to exercise reasonable care and diligence contributes to inaccurate or delayed disclosure.
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original ASIC source before acting. Full disclaimer.
ASIC releases 2026–27 supervisory priorities to support better regulation and give industry greater certainty
Why this matters
This is an informational announcement of ASIC's supervisory priorities for 2026-27 across banking, superannuation, general insurance, life insurance, and markets sectors.
Former Big Un CEO Richard Evans sentenced for communicating inside information
Why this matters
This is a news report of a completed criminal conviction and sentencing for communicating inside information under the Corporations Act. The case involves a former CEO of a collapsed ASX-listed company and demonstrates ASIC's enforcement action against market abuse.
ASIC strengthens AI trading safeguards and streamlines market integrity rules
Why this matters
ASIC has finalized amendments to the Market Integrity Rules (Securities Markets) 2017 and (Futures Markets) 2017 that strengthen mandatory controls for algorithmic and AI-enabled trading systems.
ASIC sues former Super Retail Group CEO Anthony Heraghty alleging directors’ duties breaches and misleading statements
Why this matters
This is a civil penalty enforcement action by ASIC against a senior executive of a major ASX-listed retailer (Super Retail Group) alleging breaches of sections 180 and 1309(2) of the Corporations Act.
Former Beacon Minerals project manager Alexander McCulloch sentenced for insider trading
Why this matters
This is a concluded enforcement case by ASIC resulting in conviction and sentencing for insider trading under s1043A of the Corporations Act. The case demonstrates regulatory action against a senior insider who procured associates to trade on material non-public information.
ASIC secures record $830 million in civil penalties orders and $644 million back to Australians in 2025-26
Why this matters
ASIC enforcement update reporting record civil penalties ($830M) and criminal convictions across multiple financial services sectors. Covers misconduct spanning CFD trading, scam protection failures, hardship handling, short sale misreporting, and systemic reporting breaches.
ASIC warning: Pump and dump scammers intensify use of fake celebrity endorsements
Why this matters
ASIC warning about pump and dump scams using fake celebrity endorsements and market manipulation. Primary focus on market abuse/manipulation schemes, consumer protection against investment fraud, and financial crime.
NAB’s WealthHub fined over $1 million for reporting failures
Why this matters
ASIC enforcement action against WealthHub for systematic regulatory reporting failures over 10 years, specifically regarding Intermediary ID data in trade reports. This is informational news content documenting a completed enforcement outcome rather than an emerging regulatory requirement.
Deutsche Bank pays $2 million penalty for systemic trade reporting failures
Why this matters
Deutsche Bank enforcement action for systemic failures in OTC derivative transaction reporting to ASIC. This is regulatory news documenting a completed enforcement matter with penalty paid. The violation involved misreporting direction fields across 260,000+ transactions, affecting market monitoring capabilities.
ASX ordered to pay $20.5 million penalty for misleading conduct relating to CHESS replacement project
Why this matters
ASIC enforcement action against ASX for misleading market announcements regarding CHESS replacement project. Informational news item documenting Federal Court penalty decision. Relevant to capital markets operators and their disclosure obligations regarding material project updates.
ASIC pushes for coordinated action to strengthen competitiveness of Australian markets
Why this matters
ASIC media release announcing coordinated roundtable to strengthen Australian capital markets competitiveness through financial innovation. Key focus areas include DLT, tokenised assets, AI-driven trading, automated surveillance, and market infrastructure modernisation.
ASX admits misleading conduct relating to CHESS replacement project
Why this matters
ASX admitted to misleading market disclosures about critical infrastructure project status, resulting in Federal Court proceedings with $20.5M penalty. This is informational news regarding market conduct violations and disclosure failures by a major exchange operator.
Palmer Leisure Coolum Pty Ltd pleads guilty to takeover law breaches
Why this matters
This is an ASIC enforcement action regarding takeover law breaches under the Corporations Act. The case involves failure to comply with mandatory offer requirements within the prescribed two-month period, which falls under market abuse and disclosure obligations.
CDPP discontinues insider trading charges against Big Un former CFO Andrew Corner following hung jury
Why this matters
This is an informational news release from ASIC regarding the discontinuation of insider trading charges against a former CFO. It relates to market abuse enforcement and capital markets conduct.
Fund manager Rodney Forrest re-sentenced to five years and three months’ jail following insider trading appeal
Why this matters
This is an informational news release about a completed criminal prosecution for insider trading involving a fund manager. It documents a court re-sentencing decision and ASIC's enforcement actions.
ASIC appeals Federal Court decision dismissing case against Nuix
Why this matters
ASIC appeal concerning continuous disclosure obligations and misleading statements about financial performance (ACV metrics) by software provider Nuix. Informational news update on regulatory enforcement action; classified as null urgency as this is a news announcement rather than a directive requiring immediate...
Former NSW director Mark Barnes sentenced to imprisonment after dishonestly obtaining $2.4m by selling false invoices
Former Beacon Minerals project manager Alexander McCulloch pleads guilty to insider trading
Why this matters
This regulatory update involves insider trading by a former project manager at a publicly traded company, which is a serious market abuse violation. It is relevant for banks, broker-dealers, wealth managers, and asset managers who need to be aware of such insider trading risks and ensure proper compliance and...
Former Big Un CEO pleads guilty in insider trading case
Why this matters
This regulatory update is about a former CEO pleading guilty to insider trading, which is a serious market abuse offense. It involves reporting and disclosure failures, as well as potential licensing and authorization issues for the firm and individuals involved.
ASIC urges Gen Z to ‘sense-check’ money advice as social media fuels riskier financial decisions
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC focuses on the risks associated with young Australians (Gen Z) using social media and AI platforms for financial information and decision-making, particularly in relation to cryptocurrency investments.
Supreme Court orders Macquarie Securities to pay $35 million penalty in short sale misreporting case
Why this matters
This regulatory update is classified as high urgency as it involves a significant penalty imposed on a major financial institution, Macquarie Securities, for failures in accurately reporting short sale data.
Petra Capital fined for regulatory data reporting failures
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC focuses on a broker-dealer firm, Petra Capital, being fined for failures in accurately reporting regulatory data. This impacts the capital markets and trading sector, and relates to reporting and disclosure obligations as well as market abuse surveillance.
ASIC approves Cboe’s listing application to bolster competition in public markets
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC approves Cboe's application to operate a listing market in Australia, which will increase competition in the public markets. This is relevant for capital markets firms and will impact market dynamics and oversight.
Victorian man sentenced in Cann Group insider trading case
Why this matters
This regulatory update covers an insider trading case involving a medical cannabis company, which is relevant to firms in the banking, investment management, and capital markets sectors.
ASIC’s annual report reveals strong growth in enforcement action and investigations and keen focus on strengthening markets
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC covers a range of enforcement actions, investigations, and regulatory initiatives across the financial services sector. It indicates a strong focus on consumer protection, market integrity, and transparency, which are of high importance for firms operating in banking, capital markets,...
Cboe Global Markets decision
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC discusses Cboe Global Markets' decision to sell its Australian and Canadian market businesses. It is relevant to capital markets participants, particularly broker-dealers, as it involves changes to market structure and competition.
A roadmap for capital markets to grow our economy
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC outlines a roadmap to promote strong, efficient, and globally competitive capital markets in Australia. It covers key topics such as modernizing public markets, enhancing supervision of private markets and private credit, and the role of superannuation funds.
ASIC sues former Electro Optic Systems Holdings director and CEO Ben Greene for breach of director’s duties
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC involves allegations of a former director and CEO of a publicly listed company breaching their duties by failing to disclose material changes to the company's financial guidance.
Defence systems manufacturer Electro Optic Systems Holdings admits to breaching continuous disclosure requirements
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC relates to a public company's failure to disclose material changes to its financial forecasts, which is a key reporting and disclosure requirement for listed firms. It also involves potential market abuse issues around the timing of the disclosure.
Victorian man sentenced in market manipulation case
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC focuses on a case of market manipulation involving wash trading in ASX-listed securities. It is relevant for capital markets firms and more broadly for all firms that need to be aware of and prevent market abuse practices.
Macquarie Securities admits to misleading conduct and agrees to pay $35 million for systemic failures
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC involves a broker-dealer, Macquarie Securities, admitting to misleading conduct and systemic failures in accurately reporting short sales and regulatory data. This is a serious issue impacting market transparency and integrity, warranting a high urgency classification.
Market riggers sentenced in ASX ‘pump and dump’ case
Why this matters
This regulatory update covers a case of market manipulation and 'pump and dump' schemes involving cryptocurrency and stock trading. It is relevant for broker-dealers, crypto exchanges, and other firms involved in capital markets and trading activities.
Pump and dump scammers put regulators on high alert
Why this matters
This regulatory update from ASIC warns about 'pump and dump' scams targeting Australian investors, particularly in small-cap stocks and overseas markets. It highlights the growing sophistication of these schemes and the need for increased vigilance and coordination among regulators globally.
Fund manager sentenced to 6 years’ jail in $3 million Platinum Asset Management insider trading case
Why this matters
This regulatory update covers a high-profile insider trading case involving a fund manager at Platinum Asset Management. It is relevant for investment managers and broker-dealers due to the market abuse and disclosure issues involved.