EFAMA agrees in principle with many of ESMA’s suggested approaches in their consultation on guidelines on certain aspects of the MIFID II appropriateness and execution-only requirements. However, certain, essential elements still require further considerations before finalising these Guidelines.
Capital markets
Investment managers, acting on behalf of their retail and institutional clients, are among the largest investors in financial markets. They represent a key component of the market’s “buy-side” segment.
In representing the interests of its members on wholesale capital market issues, EFAMA advocates for fair, deep, liquid, and transparent capital markets, supported by properly regulated and supervised market infrastructure.
ESMA consults on guidelines of the MIFID II appropriateness and execution-only requirements
Joint trade association letter regarding Implementation of CSDR SDR
On 11 March 2021, EFAMA and 14 trade associations representing a wide range of stakeholders in the European and global financial markets wrote to the European Commission and ESMA raising concerns about the implementation of the mandatory buy-in requirement under the EU’s CSDR Settlement Discipline Regime.
EFAMA reply to ESMA CP on marketing communications guidelines
EFAMA believes that ESMA’s draft ‘marketing communication’ Guidelines still require important clarifications to ensure full alignment between them and MiFID II’s Commission Delegated Regulation Article 44. This alignment is essential to ensure coherent rules for fund management companies and distributors. Unfortunately, parts of the proposed Guidelines are overly prescriptive and may unintentionally make some marketing materials vaguer or even inconsistent with local MiFID requirements for distributors.
Households continue to keep a disproportionate amount of money in bank deposits in most European countries
New report calls for action to be taken to revive the Capital Markets Union project
Household Participation in Capital Markets
This report analyses the progress made in recent years by European households in allocating more of their financial wealth to capital market instruments (pension plans, life insurance, investment funds, debt securities and listed shares) and less in cash and bank deposits. It also includes policy recommendations on improving retail participation in capital markets, including for the Retail Investment Strategy currently under discussion.
Some key findings include:
Buy-side experts worried that mandatory active accounts for EU clearing could increase systemic risks, not lower them
EFAMA is pleased to share the link to the educational webinar it organised on 14 June with leading buy-side clearing experts, including Allianz Global Investors, Aviva Investors, BlackRock and Nordea Asset Management, to discuss the main findings of EFAMA's recent analysis on mandated active accounts for EU clearing.