Supervisory colleges risk adding complexity without significant improvements
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) serving the needs of European citizens and businesses is as ambitious as it is essential: the effort will enable pensioners and savers to share in the upside of Europe’s economic recovery. In the process, European capital markets also become more efficient and better integrated. This long-term vision is key to financing European innovation and to supporting the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Increasing retail investors’ participation in capital markets is an essential component for building an effective CMU. Improving access to financial and non-financial information and addressing the high data costs our industry is encountering, are also important steps towards a functioning CMU. All this, while maintaining and improving the attractiveness of the European investment management sector in today's global environment.
EFAMA prepared a list of key actions that are required to reach the CMU objectives from an investor perspective. We have also developed a specific Key Performance Indicator to measure year-on-year progress towards increasing retail participation in capital markets in each member state.
Supervisory colleges risk adding complexity without significant improvements
List of recommendations show what is needed to ensure a successful tape.
In response to the ESMA’s Discussion Paper on the integration of funds’ data, EFAMA concurs with ESMA’s findings that the European asset management industry is subject to multiple and uncoordinated reporting requirements at both the national and European levels.
Today’s communication of the European Commission, “Savings and Investments Union – a Strategy to Foster Citizens Wealth and Economic Competitiveness in the EU” is a major step towards finally developing deeper, more integrated capital markets that the European Union absolutely needs. Achieving the goals of the SIU will help improve citizens’ financial well-being, meet the financing needs of EU companies and improve their competitiveness.
EFAMA’s publication lays out the asset management sector’s policy priorities for the next five years, building on the in-depth expertise of our members. This includes practical recommendations for keeping Europe competitive and developing deeper, more integrated and liquid capital markets in Europe.
The recommendations focus around four main objectives:
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:
The current lack of quality pre- and post-trade data and the fragmentation of data sources remain an obstacle to the completion of the Capital Markets Union. The benefits of a real-time Consolidated Tape are wide-ranging: from market surveillance for supervisors, to best execution and an improved view on trading opportunities for retail investors, to portfolio management and pre- and post-trade analysis for fund managers to name a few.