Events

Markets are in constant flux and commodities markets are no exception. Their market structure has evolved at an incredible pace over the past decade, driven by soaring international trade, easier access to international finance and technological developments in trading infrastructure.

After a year-long exercise, including five Task Force meetings, with a diverse group of stakeholders, CEPS and ECMI will launch the Final Report of their Task Force on 'Long-term Investing and Retirement Savings'. Under the title 'Saving for Retirement and Investing for Growth', the Final Report of the Task Force aims at making practical contributions to the debates surrounding long-term investing and retirement savings.

Commodities markets are the engine of the global economy. Easy access to commodities can boost economic growth and competitiveness. A new ECMI-CEPS Task Force report, authored by ECMI head of research Diego Valiante, looks into the price formation of 11 commodities markets.

As the re-cast MiFID has continued on its laborious path (begun in 2007 and due to be completed in 2014), MiFIR has now been added to the mix (the two together are defined as MiFID II).

Transparency and openness of financial indices based on trade reporting - Market structure implications.

Following the entry into force of the EMIR regulation and the technical standards issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), market participants are dealing with a complex list of requirements to be fulfilled at different deadlines in the coming months.

The asset management industry has become the object of intense regulatory action in the past five years, with three objectives: safeguard financial stability, stimulate market-based finance and improve investor protection. The European Commission has been at the centre of this process, which it strives to complete before its current mandate ends.

The excesses of the sub-prime crisis highlighted the dangers of the originate-to-distribute model and led to the dry-up of most securitisation markets in Europe. However, in converting illiquid pools of assets into securities that can be purchased by investors in capital markets, securitisation can play an important role in the long-term financing of industrial and infrastructure projects, as well as SMEs.

Incessant innovation in the financial marketplace and new technological developments have increased the degree of sophistication of trading activities and so the ability of 'villains' to pursue abusive practices.