Australia’s main stock exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), is facing scrutiny as the Australian regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), along with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the exchange’s governance, capability, and risk management frameworks. This investigation follows a series of recent outages that disrupted the trading of Australian stocks and raised concerns about the ASX’s ability to maintain stable and secure market infrastructure.
Upon the announcement of the inquiry, the ASX’s publicly listed stock price took a significant hit, dropping nearly 7%. While ASIC did not specify the exact incident prompting the investigation, it was revealed that a previous review in December 2024 focused on malfunctioning settlement technology. This review has now been incorporated into the broader inquiry.
Joe Longo, the Chairman of ASIC, highlighted that the decision to launch the inquiry stemmed from a history of repeated and significant failures at the ASX, including a major glitch in 2020 that halted trading for an entire day. Longo emphasized that the inquiry presents an opportunity for the ASX to rebuild market trust, which has been eroded by these operational shortcomings.
The ASX had embarked on an ambitious project in 2017 to transition its legacy clearing and settlement software to a blockchain-based platform. However, due to delays and challenges, the project was ultimately abandoned in 2022. Subsequently, the ASX engaged Tata Consultancy Services from India to implement a staged upgrade of its platform, with the first phase expected to roll out in 2026 at an estimated cost between AU$105 million and AU$125 million.
David Clarke, the Chairman of ASX, acknowledged the inquiry and confirmed the regulator’s decision to appoint an expert panel to assess the frameworks and practices within the stock exchange group. Clarke expressed the ASX’s commitment to ongoing technology upgrades despite the current inquiry, emphasizing the exchange’s efforts to enhance culture, operational risk management, business resilience, and technology resilience.
In conclusion, the investigation into the ASX underscores the critical importance of robust governance and risk management practices in maintaining the integrity and stability of financial markets. The outcomes of this inquiry are expected to have far-reaching implications for the ASX and the broader Australian financial landscape, reinforcing the necessity for continuous vigilance and improvement in market infrastructure.
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