The Financial Services Authority is casting its net across three continents in the search to find a head of enforcement to replace Margaret Cole….

Three North American regulatory officials are also potential candidates: Lorin Reisner, who recently came from the US Attorney’s office in Manhattan from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Steven L. Cohen, SEC associate enforcement director, and Tom Atkinson, who heads enforcement at the Ontario Securities Commission.

via FSA searches for new enforcement chief – FT.com

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission has recorded a surge in insider trading breaches over the last three years, recording more in that period than in the entire decade before that, ASIC deputy chairman Belinda Gibson has said.

Ms Gibson told ABC Radio that in the three years to December 2011, ASIC recorded 11 convictions for insider trading, with another seven cases still undecided. In the ten years to 2008, the watchdog won 10 cases and lost five.

via ASIC sees surge in insider trading cases — Business Spectator.

SEC brings first-ever enforcement action against a foreign audit firm for failing to comply with a request by the agency under Section 106 of SOX.

via SEC Escalates Battle With D&T Shanghai Over Documents, Brings 102(e) Charges – Compliance Week

Historic $200 million Centro settlement reportedly includes significant contribution from auditor PwC.

via Australia: Centro Securities Class Action Settles for Record $200 Million – Compliance Week

[Japan's] markets were supposed to have been plugged after insider-trading scandals in 2010. The regulators promised a crackdown after unusual share plunges and heavy trading volume ahead of follow-on offerings of shares from already listed companies raised suspicions that inside information was seeping out.

But there is ample evidence that the leaky trend continues, with stock prices falling ahead of official announcements about new equity offerings that dilute existing shareholders.

via Japan’s Leaky Markets Are Governance Washout – WSJ.com

New Director of Serious Fraud Office vows to go hard after “top-end fraud.”

via David Green Takes Over at UK’s SFO, Vows Agency is ‘Here to Stay’ – Compliance Week

The Centro class action was briefly adjourned so lawyers for former company auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers could reassess its line of argument following an explosive warning by Judge Michelle Gordon on how the case was being run. PwC’s lawyers, Richard McHugh SC and King & Wood Mallesons, were warned on Monday that they could be found personally liable for arguments that wasted the court’s time.

via PwC lawyers warned on tactics in Centro case — The Australian

Former Centro auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers has for the first time admitted negligence during the class action claim levelled against the accounting powerhouse and the shopping centre owner over Centro’s erroneous 2007 accounts. However, in its mea culpa PwC stopped short of admitting any liability to shareholders bringing the claim against both Centro and PwC, arguing the then company auditor was on retainer to Centro and not to its shareholders.

via PwC admits negligence, but not liability, in Centro class action case — The Australian

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu says its partners may face a life term in a Chinese prison if they produce workpapers demanded by the SEC.

via Deloitte Warns Complying With SEC Demand May Land Its Partners in Chinese Prison – Compliance Week

SEC Commissioner Aguilar voices disappointment, “astonishment” at SEC study on Morrison issues.

via SECs Post-Morrison Study Draws Strong Disappointment from Comm. Aguilar – Compliance Week