European Union (EU)
No rest before Mifid
The November 1 implementation deadline is upon us. But just how ready were Europe and its financial services firms for the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ? Victoria Pennington uncovers the real story behind Mifid's progress
Cross-border confusion
Despite demand from investors for retail structured products, international growth is being hindered by regulatory anomalies. Peter Green and Jeremy Jennings-Mares explain
Subprime rating actions spark EC review of agencies
The European Commission (EC) is planning an “intensive review” of credit rating agencies after the slew of recent rating actions on securities affected by poorly performing US subprime mortgages.
Swedish central bank head wants EU cross-border banking regulator
Daily news headlines
Batting for British banks
Angela Knight, chairperson of the British Bankers' Association, talks to Nick Kochan about her hard-earned reputation as the scourge of the international regulatory community
Cross-border confusion
Europe's internationally active banks have until the end of this year to be fully compliant with the new Basel capital Accord, but a lack of clarity on cross-border implementation continues to cause major problems
FSA publishes Pillar II assessment framework
FSA is first EU state to release Pillar II assessment framework
Confusion reigns
Exactly what the role of home and host regulators will be for the regulation of branches under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) remains an elusive issue. The industry is clear that firms should have to follow only one set…
Achieving business benefit from Mifid
E-symposium panellists explore how compliance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive can be turned into a plus for the business lines affected by the EU legislation. Moderated by Ellen Davis
Decoding the data
With less than six months to go before Mifid takes effect, banks need to address the data-storage and management requirements they will face. Duncan Wood reports
State of the art
Guido Ravoet, secretary general of the European Banking Federation, talks to Victoria Pennington about changes in regulatory framework, the substantial amount of work facing compliance and risk executives, and why he thinks the EU financial regulatory…
Devil in the detail
The systems and controls elements of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive is the core of the EU legislation. Compliance officers and operational risk managers alike need to check the detail to ensure they don't get caught out in November…
A call to compliance
Mifid, Basel II, SOX - the pace of regulatory change has increased substantially over the past few years, which has led to the large-scale expansion of compliance departments for financial services firms. But the recruitment market is finding it hard to…
Bumf and bumf-ability
Each time a directive is altered in the run-up to implementation, the resulting rewording and reprinting of documentation can prove almost as challenging as getting the changes accepted by the industry. When that directive is as large as Mifid, a whole…
Preparation is everything
Compliance with the November deadline for Mifid is what firms are focusing on. Business opportunities come second, reports Ellen Davis
Industry to call for €50,000 minimum EU hedge fund threshold
An industry body formed to analyse the current organisation of the alternative investments business in the European Union (EU) will tomorrow call for no specific regulation of hedge funds save for a minimum investment threshold requirement of €50,000.
A keen eye for convergence
Ellen Davis talks to Danièle Nouy, chair of the Committee of European Banking Supervisors about the CRD, Pillar III and divergence, along with other issues currently occupying the CEBS
A Shakespeare moment
There I was, sitting in a stuffy conference room in Brussels, watching what I like to call a ‘Shakespeare moment’ – when people interact in a way that captures a part of the essence of human behaviour.
Looking for clarity
The European Union's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive is set for implementation in April 2007. But there's plenty of confusion as to what the new regulations will entail – particularly with regards to 'best execution'. By Hann Ho
MiFID's spectre looms large
Time is running out for European financial institutions to establish a framework for complying with European Union MiFID directives by its implementation date of April 2007. DSTi's Ian Hunt looks at why and what MiFID is, the anticipated impact on market…
European Parliament gives green light to Basel II
The European Parliament has voted to adopt the new rules governing the Capital Requirements Directive, which will implement the Basel II framework in the EU.
Building a risk culture
German bank WestLB appointed its first chief risk officer, Matthijs van den Adel, last year after posting heavy losses in 2002 and 2003. His first job was to restructure the bank’s entire risk management framework. By Duncan Wood
EU transparency directive flawed, say FMLC and SIA
The Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC) released a working paper in late January that pointed out a substantial flaw in the proposed EU Transparency Obligations Directive.
EU transparency: Lost in translation
Many credit market participants agree that a single European financial services market would be good for all concerned. But there is widespread doubt over whether the EU is the right architect for the project.