EFAMA supports the initiatives launched by IOSCO and other regulators (e.g. ESMA, FCA, SEC) to analyse and address the significant issues concerning market data in the secondary equity market.
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 responds to IOSCO Consultation on Market Data in Secondary Equity Market
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.
EFAMA's reply to ESMA's CP on the Guidelines on the MiFID II / MiFIR Obligations on Market Data
EFAMA welcomes this ESMA initiative and we agree with the conclusions in the ESMA Report that there is an overall need to strengthen the laws applicable to data in connection with the MiFIDII/MiFIR Review, aside the implementation of a Consolidated Tape . We consider that the draft Guidelines will further strengthen the MiFID level 1 and level 2 measures and will foster the establishment of a cost-based approach for market data procurement. Therefore, we would be in favour of turning the proposed guidelines into binding regulation.
Market data users have identified important gaps in plans for EU consolidated tape
List of recommendations show what is needed to ensure a successful tape.
EFAMA & EFSA joint letter on FCA wholesale market data study
The FCA’s recent report on the wholesale data market is an important and high-quality study which echoes many long-standing buy-side concerns. It finds evidence of unequal market power in terms of market concentration, highly profitable margins, opaque pricing practices, excessive charging, bundling practices and complex licensing agreements, all of which negatively impact data users. Much of this data is indispensable for users to stay in business and fulfil regulatory obligations.
New rules establishing EU consolidated tape will boost capital markets, but could still go further
Today’s European Parliament vote concludes the MiFID/R review process
3 Questions to Rudolf Siebel on Market Data Costs
Q #1 Have you witnessed an increase in the cost of market data over the last couple of years? If so, how can it be explained?