2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Business> Content
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 23:41
Investment advice on social media spooks EU markets chief
By Bloomberg
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 23:41 By Bloomberg

This file photo dated Feb 23, 2021 shows Steven Maijoor, chairman of the European Securities and Markets Authority. (PHOTO / BLOOMBERG)

Europe’s top markets regulator says one of the lessons of the Gamestop Corp buying mania is that social media exposes individual investors to potential losses and the risk of breaking rules for preventing price manipulation.

“We have concerns around retail investors basing their buying behavior on inputs from social media, it’s important that you get reliable information,” Steven Maijoor, chairman of the European Securities and Markets Authority said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “But there are also risks for retail investors that they don’t violate rules on the market abuse requirements.”

Another point that regulators need to look into following the Gamestop mania is the role of online brokers that allow investors to buy securities without paying a commission, said Steven Maijoor, chairman of the European Securities and Markets Authority

Markets were gripped earlier this year by a buying frenzy of retail investors using new trading platforms, in some cases burning hedge funds and short sellers. Maijoor said that the experience calls for the better application of existing rules rather than an update to regulation.

Another point that regulators need to look into following the flurry around Gamestop is the role of online brokers that allow investors to buy securities without paying a commission, said Maijoor.

ALSO READ: GameStop's plunge erases US$11 billion as brokers curb trades

“We have concerns here around the payments for order flows. The relevant brokers of course can get payments, we know that that is happening for how they raise their order flows, and that raises questions around putting the interest of clients first.”

Maijoor also said a reduction in bets that stocks will fall, known as short positions, in Europe may be a “reaction to what we have seen in the US”

"The European Union needs assurances from the UK that its rules for the financial industry will remain aligned if it is to be granted access to the bloc via a system known as equivalence."

READ MORE: Tesla call options soar on Musk tweet, short-sellers hit

“From a European perspective, there is the real and substantive issue that there will be problems in terms of risk, there will be problems in terms of a level playing field if you give access to the internal market by a system that has different rules and different supervision. That makes it indeed very difficult to progress here,” Maijoor added.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !