EuroFinuse fears that the proposed guidelines for the choice and presentation of performance scenarios will mislead information for retail investors. These performance scenarios should reflect probable or highly probable returns in order to guide investors and be consistent with the EC Regulation implementing the Investment Funds Directive.
EuroFinuse advocates for the urgent and crucial need to increase pre- and post trade transparency of fixed income products sold extensively to retail investors. In addition, there is a need to ensure a minimum liquidity of these fixed income securities sold to retail investors on the secondary market.
Investor protection is one of the key objectives of the MiFID Directive. EuroFinuse is pleased that CESR has launched a consultation on this critical issue, especially after more than two years of MiFID enforcement and in the light of the current financial crisis. We are however disappointed that CESR did not consult all “stakeholders” on
Small and medium size end investors ask for: – A fact-finding study on the impact of MiFID induced changes on small and individual investors, and the consequences on the economic and social value of the now largely “re-intermediated” European capital markets; – A publicly enforced and controlled “consolidated tape” both for pre- and post-trade data,
We have worked extensively on the KID project over the last two years, and feel that CESR is now getting close to fulfilling the mandate given by the European Commission to design the new “KID” that will likely constitute a significant improvement for fund investors’ information and protection.
We find the Key Investor Information (KII) Template proposed by CESR for investment funds useful, but not clear enough on the “past performance” and “charges” sections. In particular, showing the past performances of a fund alone, without that of any comparable performance indicator is meaningless and could be misleading.
10 February 2023 | As EU policymakers continue their negotiations on the MiFIR review, BETTER FINANCE is increasingly alarmed that the regulation could severely hurt retail investors, by putting in place a market structure further benefitting dark Systematic Internalisers (SIs). Ignoring the previous plea from BETTER FINANCE and going against the interests of retail investors,
Explanations A differential pricing mechanism in insurance contracts describes a practice by which an insurance company adapts the cost or price of the product/service on considerations other than the expected risk premia or estimated expenses. Put simply, prices will reflect how proactive or passive a client is (shop around or not) rather than the risk
BETTER FINANCE welcomes the Delegated act obligations for certain large undertakings to publish non-financial information. The rules set out in the delegated act clarify and allow for the translation of the technical screening criteria of the Climate Delegated Act (and the future Environmental Delegated Act) into quantitative economic performance indicators that will need to be
Back in November 2017 we formed an Alliance to voice our disappointment with the European Commission’s proposal for the review of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), and to make proposals to remedy the situation. The Alliance reiterated its main concerns in a joint statement in July 2018, following the report on the review by the
BETTER FINANCE welcomes the initiative of the European Commission (EC) to review the non-financial reporting directive. Currently, there are significant problems regarding the non-financial information disclosed by companies pursuant to directive 2014/95/EU. The review should enable a strong alignment with the taxonomy regulation and its technical standards which include thresholds and metrics. It is also
The EU’s nascent sustainable funds label has been amended after being described as ‘too ambitious and not achievable’ […] The Ecolabel is an existing EU certification awarded to a range of products which meet high environmental standards aimed at end consumers. The scheme is being extended to include financial products for the first time to
BETTER FINANCE welcomes the update of the non-binding guidelines on non-financial reporting as a crucial step toward achieving the Paris agreement and the Sustainable Development goals by reorienting capital flows to support a long-term sustainable and just economy. However, it also expresses some doubts about the effectiveness of these requirements due to their not binding nature
On Thursday 28 June, the European fund and asset management industry body issued a press release stressing the worrying shortcomings of the rules governing the Key Information Documents (KID) for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs). This follows the publication of its Evidence Paper that found that the new methodology for calculating transaction costs
On Thursday 28 June, the European fund and asset management industry body issued a press release stressing the worrying shortcomings of the rules governing the Key Information Documents (KID) for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs). This follows the publication of its Evidence Paper that found that the new methodology for calculating transaction costs
Based on the famous Agatha Christie scenario, this tale takes place in Brussels at the heart of the Financial Institutions instead of the Orient Express. The story stems from a European regulatory initiative to neutralize the banks ‘at risk’ during a financial crisis and avoid a repeat of 2008. In 2014, during Michel Barnier’s (European
Access to equity market data is essential for “retail” investors to make informed investment decisions. However, new research by BETTER FINANCE [1] found that online equity market data published by the four largest EU equity markets (in 2019, according to ESMA) are de facto not or just partially accessible to non-professional users.[2] Equity trading venues (Regulated
Access to equity market data is essential for “retail” investors to make informed investment decisions. However, new research by BETTER FINANCE found that online equity market data published by the four largest EU equity markets in 2019 are de facto not or just partially accessible to non-professional users. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
BETTER FINANCE continues to express deep concern about the unwanted “side-effects” of the MiFID 2 regulatory framework on “lit” equity trading in the EU. Below is the summary response to the ESMA Public Consultation on the review of the MiFID 2 and MiFIR transparency regime for equity and equity-like instruments, the double volume cap mechanism
Retail investor association BETTER FINANCE has released its study looking at the impact of fees upon the performance of equity funds domiciled in France, Luxembourg and Belgium. The main conclusion of the research released on 20 June 2019 in Brussels – the more you pay for an equity fund, the less you get returns from
This research paper is part of BETTER FINANCE’s annual #FundResearch project, an umbrella research activity aimed at providing qualitative and quantitative assessments of the EU market for retail investment funds, focusing on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). This paper compares mutual fund returns with their market index
Yesterday Oxera released a report entitled “The design of equity trading markets in Europe – An economic analysis of price formation and market data services” commissioned by the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE). Through this research, FESE is seeking to inform the debate on the design of equity trading markets in Europe, particularly when
Solvency II equity-to-own funds calibrations to be reduced to 22% in some cases to support long-term investments. BETTER FINANCE’s (and others’) unabated efforts to convince the EU Authorities to recalibrate the capital requirements for equity have started to bear fruit. On 9 November 2018, with the input of BETTER FINANCE and other stakeholders, the Commission
BETTER FINANCE’s (and others’) unabated efforts to convince the EU Authorities to recalibrate the capital requirements for equity have started to bear fruit. On 9 November 2018, with the input of BETTER FINANCE and other stakeholders, the Commission tabled targeted amendments to the Solvency II delegated regulation, in particular to the equity calibration.
Renewed research by BETTER FINANCE finds that at least 30% of the main actively managed UCITS equity funds (those with a ‘fund benchmark’) still do not comply with key disclosure requirements for benchmarks as stipulated in EU Rules. In the face of persistent poor enforcement in our view in some major fund domiciles, BETTER FINANCE
Renewed research by BETTER FINANCE finds that at least 30% of the main actively managed UCITS equity funds (those with a ‘fund benchmark’ ) still do not comply with key disclosure requirements for benchmarks as stipulated in EU Rules. In the face of persistent poor enforcement in our view in some major fund domiciles, BETTER
The draft Regulation on ESG ratings proposed by the European Commission in June 2023 aims to establish a framework and tackle structural issues by combating possible conflicts of interests, imposing better transparency in the rating processes, and introducing an authorisation and supervision system for ESG rating providers (for both EU and non-EU entities). Although commendable,
Transparency Task Force is holding an online event, to draw attention to the collective redress action by Stichting Investor Loss Compensation (SILC) for individual Airbus investors who have incurred damages, and to discuss the “Power of Class Actions to get Justice”. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, July 4th, between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Transparency Task Force will hold a webinar about financial reporting, covering themes such as “Get real about financial reporting” and “The Financialisaton of Financial Reporting”. Stakeholders and experts will talk about “smoke and mirrors” and “conjuring tricks” and “insurance companies trading insolvent” and “Solvency 2 reforms”, amongst others. Addressing the inadequacies of financial reporting, the
Retail trading must be simple, transparent, cost-efficient, and done in the best possible conditions for individual, non-professional (“retail”) investors. To achieve this, BETTER FINANCE puts forward a series of recommendations in relation to best execution of retail orders and payments for order flows (PFOF or, more adequately PFROF: Payment for retail order flow). Payments for
Although SPACs – Special Purpose Acquisition Companies – have existed for quite some time, their sudden popularity over the last few years has drawn the attention of investors and regulators alike. In their latest joint report, BETTER FINANCE and CFA Institute shed light on the debate around SPACs also known as “blank cheques companies”. Based
The objective of this project is to understand the perceived experience of market participants with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), including investment professionals as well as the recipients of financial services and products (i.e., retail investors). The study presents professional and retail investors’ views on the main issues that pertain to SPAC vehicles: transparency and