EFAMA has some concerns with ESMA’s clarifications. In the consultation paper (CP), ESMA seems to have a very broad interpretation of the ‘multilateral systems’ definition under MiFID II and states that ‘systems where trading interests can interact but where the execution of transactions is formally undertaken outside the system still qualify as a multilateral system and should be required to seek authorisation’ (paragraph 36).
MiFID / MiFIR
The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) is a cornerstone of EU financial services legislation and is of direct relevance to asset management companies. In 2014, the European Commission adopted new rules revising MiFID, consisting of a Directive (MiFID II) and a regulation (MiFIR). Overall, MiFID II yielded positive results in terms of liquidity and transparency for investors.
Among possible improvements to the MiFID framework, EFAMA encourages the creation of a well-structured, reasonably priced consolidated tape managed by ESMA and fed by all trading venues and systematic internalisers for all financial instruments. A second, long-term EFAMA objective is better enforcement of data providers’ existing obligation to provide market data on a “reasonable commercial basis”.
EFAMA's reply to ESMA's CP on MiFIR Review report on the obligations to report transactions & reference data
We disagree with an extension of its scope to UCITS’ and AIFs’ management companies to the scope of the reporting requirements imposed by MiFIR, Art. 26. This extension would be in breach of the principle of proportionality, as:
EFAMA comments EC CP on a Covid-19 Capital Markets Recovery Package
EFAMA appreciates the Commission's efforts in pursuing an alleviation of certain MiFID II requirements in the interest of promoting a swift recovery from the economic crisis precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic (....).
EFAMA believes however that there are more effective ways to foster SME access to markets and urges the Commission to consider a set of further measures (...)
EFAMA responses to the discussion questions within the IOSCO report “corporate bond markets – drivers of liquidity during covid-19 induced market stresses”
EFAMA is appreciative of the opportunity to comment on this major IOSCO study on the dynamics of bond market liquidity during market stresses. We provide some detailed responses below, but would reiterate a few high-level points here:
EFAMA – the urgency behind a consolidated tape for Europe | A buy-side view on consolidated tape and market structure reforms
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has today published its position paper on the European Commission’s proposed Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation review which establishes a blueprint for a consolidated tape (CT) across Europe’s capital markets.
Joint Statement on EU Commission proposal for revised Market in Financial Instrument Regulation (MiFIR)
We see great value in the creation of a consolidated tape to support Europe’s capital markets. However, we qualify that statement with a reminder that the framework for a successful consolidated tape should
i) address the known market failure around market data costs,