ESMA consults on Market Soundings and Delayed Information under MAR

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has opened today a public consultation on draft guidelines clarifying the implementation of the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). MAR strengthens the existing market abuse framework by extending its scope to new markets, platforms and trading behaviours. It contains prohibitions for insider dealing and market manipulation, and provisions to prevent and detect these.

ESMA is seeking stakeholder’s feedback on draft guidelines:

 

  1. for persons receiving market soundings (MAR introduces a detailed regime for  “market soundings”); and
  2. on legitimate interests of issuers to delay disclosure of inside information (MAR provides the possibility, under certain circumstances, to delay the disclosure of insider information) and on situations in which the delay of disclosure is likely to mislead the public.

ESMA will consider the feedback to this consultation with a view to finalising the two sets of Guidelines and publishing a final report by early Q3 2016. MAR will directly apply in EU Member States from 3 July 2016, amending the previous Market Abuse Directive (MAD). As provided for in MAR, ESMA already delivered Draft Technical Standards, setting out further detailed rules required by MAR, notably in relation to disclosing market participants conducting market soundings. ESMA is still preparing a consultation paper on a third set of guidelines required under MAR and relating to the information expected or required to be published in relation to commodity derivatives.”

The consultation is open for comments received by 31 March 2016. The ESMA statement and the consultation paper can be found here.

Lavanya Rathnam

Lavanya Rathnam is an experienced technology, finance, and compliance writer. She combines her keen understanding of regulatory frameworks and industry best practices with exemplary writing skills to communicate complex concepts of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) in clear and accessible language. Lavanya specializes in creating informative and engaging content that educates and empowers readers to make informed decisions. She also works with different companies in the Web 3.0, blockchain, fintech, and EV industries to assess their products’ compliance with evolving regulations and standards.

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