...statement in an email message will not be treated as a request for non-disclosure. A confidential response may be requested from us in accordance with ESMA’s rules on access to documents. We may consult you if we receive such a request. Any decision we make not to disclose the response is reviewable by ESMA’s Board of Appeal and the European Ombudsman. Data protection Information on data protection can be found at www.esma.europa.eu under the heading ‘Legal Notice’. Who should read this paper This paper may be specifically of interest to any investors that deals in financial instruments and emission allowances subject to the Market Abuse Regulation, issuers of instruments in the scope of the Regulation, financial intermediaries and operators of trading venues. ESMA • CS 60747 – 103 rue de Grenelle • 75345 Paris Cedex...
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...High-Frequency Trading Peter Gomber, Björn Arndt, Marco Lutat, Tim Uhle Chair of Business Administration, especially e-Finance E-Finance Lab Prof. Dr. Peter Gomber Campus Westend • RuW P.O. Box 69 • D-60629 Frankfurt/Main Commissioned by Executive Summary High-frequency trading (HFT) has recently drawn massive public attention fuelled by the U.S. May 6, 2010 flash crash and the tremendous increases in trading volumes of HFT strategies. Indisputably, HFT is an important factor in markets that are driven by sophisticated technology on all layers of the trading value chain. However, discussions on this topic often lack sufficient and precise information. A remarkable gap between the results of academic research on HFT and its perceived impact on markets in the public, media and regulatory discussions can be observed. The research at hand aims to provide up-to-date background information on HFT. This includes definitions, drivers, strategies, academic research and current regulatory discussions. It analyzes HFT and thus contributes to the ongoing discussions by evaluating certain proposed regulatory measures, trying to offer new perspectives and deliver solution proposals. Our main results are: HFT is a technical means to implement established trading strategies. HFT is not a trading strategy as such but applies the latest technological advances in market access, market data access and order routing to maximize the returns of established trading strategies. Therefore...
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...This was followed by the establishment of Takafol S.A. in 1982, the first Islamic insurance company in Europe. Such history has improved the attractiveness of Luxembourg within Islamic finance industry. There are some recent developments: Since April 2008, the Minister of Finance has set up a task force bringing together key actors of the Islamic finance industry in Luxembourg. Its mission is to look at how Islamic finance can be further developed in Luxembourg. In 2008, the Association of the Luxembourg Funds Industry (ALFI) launched a working group focusing on the development of Luxembourg as a center of excellence for Shariah compliant funds. In early 2009, the Luxembourg Deutsche Bank launched "Al Mi'yar", a Luxembourg domiciled platform which aims at smoothing the issuance of Shariah compliant securities. In 2009, the Central Bank of Luxembourg became a member of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and, as such, is the first Central Bank of the European Union to become a member of that institution. In January 2010, the Luxembourg Tax Authority published a circular, the object of which is to clarify the tax treatment of Murabaha and Sukuk transactions and ensure that they benefit from the same tax treatment as conventional financing products. In April 2010, Luxembourg for Finance (LFF) issued a brochure describing in...
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...ATMonitor team would like to thank all members and experts that have generously contributed to the success of MyATMonitor. ATMonitor Team. www.atmonitor.co.uk 2 Fragmentation of Liquidity ATMonitor Commentary Experts Panellists (in the order of appearance): Steve Grob Director of Group Strategy, Fidessa Steve is responsible for Fidessa’s strategic development.This includes the development of new geographic markets and strategic partnerships and driving new industry initiatives. As part of this Steve heads up the firm’s strategy in response to the fragmentation of the equities trading landscape, managing the firm’s initiatives in conjunction with both the established exchanges and the new and emerging alternative liquidity venues and dark pools. Steve has also played a significant part in bringing the Fidessa Fragmentation Index (FFI) and the Fragulator® to the wider trading community. He provides a regular commentary on the issues...
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...Introduction Dark pools are a complex topic subject to misunderstanding amongst the broad public, media, and government regulators. To help provide a better perspective, we discuss the evolution of equity markets that led to the development of electronic trading, dark pools, and current market structure. We move on to analyze dark pools and their overall impact on trading. We then discuss further aspects of dark pools in particular, and consider regulation and global trends in market structure. Historical Perspective on Equity Markets The first modern equity market was established in the Netherlands in 1610 with the publically traded shares of the Dutch East India Company. Financial transactions had taken place since the dawn of civilization, but 1610 was a milestone towards the development of the equity markets we know today. Because equity securities represent transferable ownership interests in corporations, dividing business organizations into small, affordable pieces made it easier for entrepreneurs to raise capital from multiple sources. At the same time, limited liability allowed investors to diversify their investments without fear of incurring risk of personal accountability. Enhanced liquidity also eased transfer of ownership. Secondary markets for the securities of public firms quickly developed as the number of companies increased. Merchants and traders bought and sold securities just like other commodities, and specialization soon flourished. Stock exchanges...
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...MANAGING FINANCIAL RISKS OF SUKUK STRUCTURES Ali Arsalan Tariq M.Sc. International Banking Copyright AA Tariq, September 2004 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science at Loughborough University, UK. Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank my family – mother, father and my siblings – for their undying love. I would never have come so far without them. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my supervisor, Dr. Humayon Dar, for his insightful guidance and for always being welcoming and patient with my unannounced visits throughout the year. This dissertation would never have been produced otherwise. Last but not least, I would like to thank my friends at Loughborough University that have made my summer of 2004 all the more memorable. For everything that is right, credit goes to all of the above. For anything that is wrong, I am culpable. Ali Arsalan Tariq September 2004 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction II. Islamic Financial Assets: Overview of Theoretical Aspects 2.1 Prohibitions 2.1.1. Prohibition of Riba (Interest) ` 2.1.2. Prohibitions of Gharar (Excessive Uncertainty) 2.1.3. Avoidance of Unethical Investments and Services 2.2 Alternative Basis of Financial Instruments 2.2.1 Partnership Contracts 2.2.2. Exchange Contracts 2.2.3. Financial Assets III. Evolution and Profile of Sukuk Structures and Markets 3.1 Types of Sukuk 3.1.1 Pure Ijarah Sukuk 3.1.2. Hybrid/Pooled Sukuk 3...
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...Chapter 8: Institutions and Procedures in Secondary Markets A. Exchanges and Floor Markets The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 defined an exchange to be: any organization, association, or group of persons, whether incorporated or unincorporated, which constitutes, maintains, or provides a market place or facilities for bringing together purchasers and sellers of securities or for otherwise performing with respect to securities the functions commonly performed by a stock exchange as that term is generally understood, and includes the market place and the market facilities maintained by such exchange. An exchange is typically a physical or virtual meeting place drawing together brokers, dealers and traders to facilitate the buying and selling of securities. Thus, exchanges include the floorbased markets as well as many virtual meeting sites and screen-based systems provided by Electronic Communications Networks (ECNs). In the United States and most other countries, exchange transactions are executed through some type of auction process. Exchanges in the United States are intended to provide for orderly, liquid and continuous markets for the securities they trade. A continuous market provides for transactions that can be executed at any time for a price that might be expected to differ little from the prior transaction price for the same security. In addition, exchanges traditionally served as self-regulatory organizations (SROs) for their members, regulating and policing their...
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...growth in net interest income, and well-performing retail and corporate loan portfolios. Cost-to-income ratio CET 1 capital ratio Loan-to-deposit ratio 53% 11.7% 124% Improved from the first half of 2014, with administrative expenses tightly managed absorbing ongoing investment. Strong capital position with an improved PRA end-point Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.1%. Unchanged from the end of 2014, with strong growth in Retail Banking assets and liabilities. Gross mortgage lending Lending to corporates Retail customer satisfaction £11.9bn +11% year-on-year 61.7% We helped 15,800 first-time buyers and 2,800 Help to Buy customers purchase a home. During the first half of 2015, we extended £4.5bn of new facilities to SMEs and mid-sized corporates, an increase of 15% on the first half of 2014. Gap between Santander UK and the average of three highest performing peers closed1. Further improvement is at the heart of our plans. 1.86% Up 6 basis points on the first half of 2014, largely due to the lower cost of retail liabilities. This Half Yearly Financial Report contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. See ‘Forward-looking...
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...Communications Annual Report 2009-10 (28th December, 1932 - 6th July, 2002) Reliance Group - Founder and Visionary Dhirubhai H. Ambani Profile Reliance Communications Limited is the flagship Company of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, India’s third largest business house. Reliance Communications is India’s foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The Company, with a customer base of 109 million including over 2.5 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 4 Telecom companies in the world by number of customers in a single country. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 2,100 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 800 global, regional and domestic carriers. Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire communications value chain, covering over 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages. Reliance Communications owns and operates the world’s largest next generation IP enabled connectivity infrastructure, comprising over 2,77,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable systems in India, USA, Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. Mission: Excellence in Communication Arena To attain global best practices and become a world-class communication service provider – guided by its purpose to move towards greater degree...
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...investing in and innovating for India. RIL is striving to meet and exceed global benchmarks in product quality and customer service with inspiring ideas and strategic investments. From the manufacturing landscape to high-growth consumer service sectors, RIL is achieving superior outcomes that facilitate India’s drive for global leadership. RIL is delivering industry-leading performance through consistent efficiency in operations and prudent configuration of assets. RIL is making sizable capital investments, focusing on technology and expanding its level of services from the hydrocarbons sector to consumer businesses. RIL innovates for existing businesses and also focuses on developing new business models to deliver g g g y significant value for its growing stakeholder fraternity. In this effort, it collaborates with o s with leading global institutions to help usher in a n era of possibilities. global new is growing o RIL’s focus is to continue growing as a respons responsible organisation, thereby e inspiring progress in the lives it touches. financial a r n RIL’s financial and operational performanc reflects the strength operational performance extent integration x t n and extent of integration in its operation It also highlights its operations. t management e profi robust risk management strategies, proficiency of its people and efficiency n processes. s efficiency of its processes. The...
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...Communications Annual Report 2011-12 Profile Reliance Communications Limited Reliance Communications Limited is the flagship Company of Reliance Group, one of the leading business houses in India. Reliance Communications is India’s foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The Company, with a customer base of 161 million as on March 31, 2012 including over 2.5 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 4 Telecom companies in the world by number of customers in a single country. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes over 35,000 Indian and multinational corporations including small and medium enterprises and over 800 global, regional and domestic carriers. Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire communications value chain, covering over 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages. Reliance Communications owns and operates the world’s largest next generation IP enabled connectivity infrastructure, comprising over 2,77,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable systems in India, USA, Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. Mission: Excellence in Communication Arena To attain global best practices and become a world-class communication service provider – guided by its purpose to move towards greater degree of sophistication and maturity...
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...org). © Bank for International Settlements 2012. All rights reserved. Brief excerpts may be reproduced or translated provided the source is stated. ISSN 1609-0381 (print) ISBN 92-9131-135-9 (print) ISSN 1682 7651 (online) ISBN 92-9197-135-9 (online) Preface The massive expansion of central bank balance sheets to contain the worst financial crisis in living memory raises questions about the theory and practice of monetary policy. The persistence in many advanced countries of large fiscal deficits and the prospect of high public debt/GDP ratios for many years is likely, at some point, to create policy dilemmas not only for central banks but also for public debt managers. Some countries have already had to cope with higher sovereign risk. Worries about both “fiscal dominance” and “financial repression” have certainly gained ground. Whatever view is taken of this, the boundary between monetary policy and government debt management has become increasingly blurred. Policy interactions have changed in ways that are difficult to understand. The current delineation of policy mandates may need to be reassessed. The...
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...Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Federal Health Information Technology Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015 Table of Contents Introduction Federal Health IT Vision and Mission Federal Health IT Principles Goal I: Achieve Adoption and Information Exchange through Meaningful Use of Health IT Goal II: Improve Care, Improve Population Health, and Reduce Health Care Costs through the Use of Health IT Goal III: Inspire Confidence and Trust in Health IT Goal IV: Empower Individuals with Health IT to Improve their Health and the Health Care System Appendix A: Performance Measures Appendix B: Programs, Initiatives, and Federal Engagement Appendix C: HIT Standards and HIT Policy Committees Information Flow Appendix E: Statutes and Regulations Appendix F: Goals, Objectives, and Strategies Appendix G: Acronyms ONC Acknowledgements Notes 3 6 7 8 21 28 36 49 51 65 67 70 74 77 77 78 Goal V: Achieve Rapid Learning and Technological Advancement 43 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 3 Introduction he technologies collectively known as health information technology (health IT) share a common attribute: they enable the secure collection and exchange of vast amounts of health data about individuals. The collection and movement of this data will power the health care of the future. Health IT has the potential to empower individuals and increase transparency; enhance the ability to study care delivery and payment systems; and ultimately achieve...
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...affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. All rights reserved. Introduction | 3 As multinational companies continue to globalize their supply chains, transfer pricing is increasingly at the forefront of business transformation initiatives. Organizations recognize that transfer pricing strategies can add significant value to business projects and help fund future growth as they look to maximize efficiencies and minimize their global tax liabilities. The transfer pricing environment is constantly changing, in terms of both risks and opportunities. Multinational companies need to ensure they stay up-to-date with the latest developments and transfer pricing best practices. In doing so, they can optimize the opportunities to reduce their global effective tax rate and ensure they remain compliant with changing guidelines and regulations, while at the same time minimizing the risks associated with a transfer pricing audit. Keeping track of the fast-developing...
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