Capital Markets Union
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) serving the needs of European citizens and businesses is as ambitious as it is essential: the effort will enable pensioners and savers to share in the upside of Europe’s economic recovery. In the process, European capital markets also become more efficient and better integrated. This long-term vision is key to financing European innovation and to supporting the transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Increasing retail investors’ participation in capital markets is an essential component for building an effective CMU. Improving access to financial and non-financial information and addressing the high data costs our industry is encountering, are also important steps towards a functioning CMU. All this, while maintaining and improving the attractiveness of the European investment management sector in today's global environment.
EFAMA prepared a list of key actions that are required to reach the CMU objectives from an investor perspective. We have also developed a specific Key Performance Indicator to measure year-on-year progress towards increasing retail participation in capital markets in each member state.
EFAMA comments European Commission's Proposal on disclosures relating to sustainable investments
EFAMA comments European Commission's Taxonomy Proposal (Sustainable Finance Package)
EFAMA on EC Proposal on low-carbon benchmarks and positive carbon impact benchmarks
An ambitious CMU Action Plan that will need strong political support from Member States
Building a Capital Markets Union (CMU) that serves the needs of European citizens and businesses is an ambitious yet, essential - project that requires a long-term political vision, determination and perseverance.
The new CMU Action Plan adopted today by the European Commission, which largely builds on the recommendation of the CMU High-Level Forum, is a milestone in the journey towards the realisation of this ambition for Europe.
EFAMA calls for use of KPIs to monitor national progress in household participation in capital markets
EFAMA has today published a report entitled 'Household Participation in Capital Markets Assessing the current state and measuring future progress'. This publication precedes the European Commission's forthcoming new Action Plan on the Capital Markets Union (CMU). It includes ten concrete policy recommendations to help advance the CMU, including the introduction of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to monitor progress in household participation in capital markets.
EFAMA welcomes the vote of the European Parliament's ECON amending proposal on cross-border distribution of funds
The Committees vote confirmed important amendments to the Commissions original proposal, i.e. extending the premarketing definition to established EU AIFs and removing the numerical thresholds conditioning the de-notification of funds from host jurisdictions.
Household Participation in Capital Markets
This report analyses the progress made in recent years by European households in allocating more of their financial wealth to capital market instruments (pension plans, life insurance, investment funds, debt securities and listed shares) and less in cash and bank deposits. It also includes policy recommendations on improving retail participation in capital markets, including for the Retail Investment Strategy currently under discussion.
Some key findings include:
Visual | Why do we need a real-time Consolidated Tape in the EU?
The current lack of quality pre- and post-trade data and the fragmentation of data sources remain an obstacle to the completion of the Capital Markets Union. The benefits of a real-time Consolidated Tape are wide-ranging: from market surveillance for supervisors, to best execution and an improved view on trading opportunities for retail investors, to portfolio management and pre- and post-trade analysis for fund managers to name a few.
Market Insights | Issue #5 | Perspective on the net performance of UCITS
Equity UCITS delivered a total net return of 108% in real terms in 2010-2019, whereas bank deposits lost 10% in net value
