EU prop trader regime could capture foreign firms

Group capital rules may be applied to third-country arms of EU market-makers

There is growing unease among proprietary traders that new European Union prudential rules could end up being applied to their operations in the US and Asia, plus the UK after Brexit, potentially leaving them with much higher capital than their foreign rivals.

The concerns stem from the EU’s proposed group capital requirements for investment firms and a tougher approach to equivalence for those based in third countries.

“It is certainly a concern, and… at odds with the whole capital markets