European Union member states signed off on June 26 on new rules that will radically alter how shares are traded across the bloc, pitting exchanges against banks for business from investors.
The European Securities Committee, made up of finance officials from the 25 member states, adopted a series of technical measures to introduce the EU's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFiD) next year. The new rules will allow banks to trade shares in-house, off an exchange for the first time in most member states, to boost competition and choice for investors.