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Governance and Organization of Trading Venues: The Role of Financial Market Infrastructure Groups

Author(s):
Guido Ferrarini, Paolo Saguato
Posted:
12-2021
Law & Economics #:
21-42

ABSTRACT:

The scenario of trading venues has undergone significant reforms and transformation over the last twenty years. Particularly in the European Union, through integration - at a firm level - and consolidation - at a geographical level - traditional financial exchanges have developed into pan-European and global financial market infrastructure (FMI) groups. However, European financial regulation has not kept the pace with these market developments. Despite more than 70% of market transactions being handled by infrastructural groups, the regulatory approach is overly siloed, creating a separate set of regulations for trading and post-trading entities and services. This paper questions whether and to what extent FMI groups may (i) affect competition in the trade and post-trade industry and (ii) pose systemic stability threats because of their structural role in providing a primary service for the smooth functioning of the financial markets.