Risk Library
   Documents by Author
     International Organization of Securities...
       Regulation of Derivative Markets, Produc...
         Introduction
           Preface
           Preliminary Observations
           Features of Derivative Instruments with ...
           Areas of Regulatory Concern










 

Introduction

Preliminary Observations

In general, there is no single "preferred" model for the regulation of derivative products, markets, clearing houses or those who participate in such markets directly or as intermediaries. However, a review of the regulatory summaries indicates a substantial similarity in perceived regulatory objectives. From these summaries, it appears that these regulatory objectives may be achieved in various jurisdictions by different means and that regulation need not be identical to adequately address common regulatory goals. At a minimum, the consensus was that the aims of regulation should be:
(i) financial safety including the integrity of clearing houses and market participants;
(ii) fairness, including fiduciary and related customer (investor) protection concerns; and
(iii) market efficiency and integrity.
There may be a number of explanations for the differences in regulatory structure and practice among jurisdictions. These reasons include:
- The different nature and structure of markets; for example, pit trading as compared to screen-based or other electronic trading mechanisms,
- The different nature and design of products,
- Different cultural and national customs and practices,
- Legal or juridical distinctions among jurisdictions; for example, differences between common law and civil law jurisdictions, public and private markets, and universal banking and non-universal banking or mixed jurisdictions, and
- Historically, different legal implications of specified conduct; for example, in some jurisdictions, concerns related to anticompetitive practices are a fundamental aspect of the regulatory system.
Among regulators, perceptions vary as to the significance of specific regulatory differences and how these differences could be resolved or accommodated where cross-border transactions occur and other jurisdictions have an interest in a particular transaction, market or person. Regardless of whether differences in the regulatory approach exist, there is consensus that bilateral or multilateral arrangements for information sharing between relevant regulatory authorities (whether governmental, quasi-governmental or private) are essential to addressing cross-border transactions effectively. Within the framework of these arrangements, and otherwise, several ways of resolving regulatory differences may be identified. Among others, these may include:
- harmonization efforts;
- disclosure of specific regulatory differences upon request to non-national market participants; and
- arrangements, including choice of law or home/host provisions, which allocate rules from different jurisdictions to particular transactions or market participants.

Contact us * Risk Library * Documents by Author * International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) * Regulation of Derivative Markets, Products and Financial Intermediaries * Introduction