On January 3rd 2018, the implementation of the new regulatory framework on financial markets and instruments, based on MiFID II Directive and MiFIR Regulation, has began.

What is it?

MiFID II. Is the 2014/65/EU Directive on financial instrument markets.

Based on the improvement of the rules already adopted by MiFID, it regulates the conditions for authorization and operation of the Investment Services Firms (ESI), including the freedom of establishment and provision of services in the EU, as well as the activity of companies from third states; the conditions for authorization and operation of regulated markets; the limitation of the positions and controls of the management of positions in derivatives on raw materials; the rules of conduct and investor protection to be followed by Investment Services Firms; data provision services and the designation and powers of the competent authorities introduce organizational and conduct requirementes for market participants with the aim of improving investor protection. Based on the improvement of the rules already adopted by MiFID, it regulates the conditions for authorization and operation of the Investment Services Firms (ESI=, including the freedom of establishment and provision of services in the EU, as well as the activity of companies from third states; the conditions for authorization and operation of regulated markets; the limitation of the positions and controls of the mangement of positions in derivatives on raw materials; the rules of conduct and investor protection to be followed by Investment Services Firms; data provision services and the designation and powers of the competent authorities introduce organizational and conduct requirements for market participants with the aim of improving investor protection.

  • Strives for the organized negotiation to take place on regulated platforms.
  • Introduces rules on algorithmic and high-frequency negotiation.
  • Improves transparency and supervision of financial markets, including derivatives markets, and addresses the shortcomings of the commodity derivatives markets.
  • Reinforces investor protection and rules of conduct as well as the conditions of competition in the negotiation and settlement of financial instruments.

The new rules, based on improved rules already adopted by MiFID, introduce organizational and behavioral requirements for market participants in order to improve investor protection.

MiFIR. It is EU Regulation No. 600/2014 on markets in financial instruments. It regulates pre- and post-trade transparency in relation to competent authorities and investors, the requirements and obligations of data service providers, establishes the obligation to negotiate derivatives in trading centres and certain supervisory action.

It establishes requirements on:

  • Dissemination of trading activity to the public.
  • Reporting operation data to regulators and supervisors.
  • Obligatory negotiation of derivatives in organized systems.
  • Elimination of obstacles between trading systems and settlement service providers to ensure greater competition.
  • Specific supervisory actions on financial instruments and positions in derivatives.

The objectives of this reform are:

  • Reinforce investor protection, regulating inter alia, advice on the commercialization of financial products and their incentives.
  • Adapt to technological and market developments,regulation practices such as automated algorithmic trading.
  • Promote the trading of financial instruments from OTC (over the counter) markets to trading centres (regulated markets, multilateral trading systems or organized trading systems).
  • Increase transparency in markets, not only in relation to the negotiation of shares and similar instruments, but also in relation to bonds or derivatives, to ensure their proper functioning in the setting of prices.
  • Improve the regulation of some financial products such as derivatives, especially derivatives on raw materials.
  • Facilitate the access of SMEs to financing, through the creation of "Expansive SME Markets".
  • Strengthen and harmonize supervision and sanctions available to competent authorities andavoid regulatory arbitrage.
In addition, MiFID II and MiFIR are developed by more than 30 non-legislative acts, both delegatd and implemented, approved by the Commission.

Basic regulation

By topics

Notifications

Notification procedures for systematic internalisation activities and activities related to algorithmic negotiation

These notifications may be submitted through the following specific procedures available in the "CIFRADOC AREA" of the CNMV Virtual Office:

  • NIA - Notification of Systematic Internalisation Activities
  • NAN - Notification of Activities Related to Algorithmic Negotiation

Forms related to data reporting

The Guides and Procedures related to these forms are available in the Data Reporting section.

Exemptions

Article 2(1)(j) of MiFID establishes that the Directive will not apply to persons: (i) dealing on own account, including market makers, in commodity derivatives or emission allowances or derivatives thereof, excluding persons who deal on own account when executing client orders; or (ii) providing investment services, other than dealing on own account, in commodity derivatives or emission allowances or derivatives thereof to the customers or suppliers of their main business; provided that:
  • for each of those cases individually and on an aggregate basis this is an ancillary activity to their main business, when considered on a group basis, and that main business is not the provision of investment services within the meaning of this Directive or banking activities under Directive 2013/36/EU, or acting as a market-maker in relation to commodity derivatives,
  • those persons do not apply a high-frequency algorithmic trading technique; and  
  • those persons notify annually the relevant competent authority that they make use of this exemption and upon request report to the competent authority the basis on which they consider that their activity under points (i) and (ii) is ancillary to their main business;

On the other hand, in relation to the provisions of Article 57 of MiFID, Article 8 of RD (EU) 2017/591 establishes that non-financial entities which maintain a position that is considered to reduce the risks directly related to their business activities must submit a request for exemption from position limits to their competent authority.

Legal framework

Implementation at national level

How we can help

In order to make entities’ work easier, CNMV has set up an e-mail address to reply to users' queries about this issue: DMS-POSLIM@cnmv.es

Qualifications for the training of staff of entities’ sales networks

Activities

Links of interest

News