Our latest paper from AFME’s Technology & Operations Division sets out 14 recommendations to help realise the full potential of public cloud computing across the capital markets industry. The recommendations for banks, cloud providers, regulators, and the industry as a whole aim to increase the transparency and collaboration required to build further confidence, trust and capability in public cloud.

Available inFrench,German,ItalianandSpanish. This second edition of AFME’s annual report tracks the progress of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) project through eight Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It is a joint publication with ten trade associations and international organisations representing global and European capital markets stakeholders. The report includes a country-by-country comparison of individual EU Member State progress against the CMU’s objectives.This year’s report also includes a new indicator measuring how well EU countries aredeveloping their FinTech ecosystems. Key findings include: Europe strengthened its global leadership in sustainable finance - Issuance of sustainable bonds increased 16% in the EU during 2018 to €69bn, an increase of €9bn compared to 2017. The EU 27 lags behind on FinTech funding - EU27 FinTech companies have only benefited from $7.2bn in investments (venture capital, seed, angel and private equity) since 2009, compared with $120bn in the US, $23.8bn in China and $20.3bn in the UK. Europe’s reliance on bank lending has increased - European companies continue to over rely on bank lending, with 88% of their new funding in 2018 coming from banks and only 12% from capital markets – a decline from 14% on average in 2013-2017. As the EU begins a new political cycle, there is an increasing focus on the need to further develop the Capital Markets Union. While some of our report’s indicators show a positive trajectory since last year’s results, such as Europe’s global leadership in sustainable finance, it is clear that there is still much work to be done at European and national levels, particularly on making Europe’s capital markets more competitive. The 2018 first edition of the report can be foundhere.

Discussion Draft Principles Supporting the Strengthening of Operational Resilience Maturity in Financial Services

Surveillance within wholesale banks is integral to the identification and investigation of unlawful or unethical practices, such as: misconduct, market manipulation and market abuse, and financial crime. The surveillance function in financial institutions has evolved significantly over the last ten years, mainly driven by regulatory requirements and high-profile misconduct cases. Banks have, as a result, invested heavily in building their surveillance capability. However, with rapidly developing technologies and regulatory expectations, the ongoing drive to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of surveillance must continue.

Featuring contributions from a range of distinguished industry figures such as Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney and European Commission Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis,this collection of essays assessesthe achievements of Europe’s financial industry over the last 10 years, as well as the remaining challenges for creating an integrated banking and capital market.

As we reflect on AFME’s work during the last year it is also an important moment to take stock more generally on the development of Europe’s banking and capital markets, and on thesignificant global forces driving change within wholesale finance. While there has been strong and steady progress on creating an integrated banking and capital market in Europe in recent years, there is still much more to do. At this moment of significant political change, with new leadership at the European Commission, EuropeanCouncil and European Central Bank we will continue to make the case for reducing fragmentation within Europe’s financial markets.

As the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in capital markets continues at pace, attention is increasingly being focused on how capital markets firms can demonstrate a responsible approach to their use of the technology. This white paper has been developed by AFME’s AI Task Force to consider how to approach transparency in AI/ML, which is a key factor in demonstrating and ensuring the safe and effective deployment of trustworthy AI/ML in capital markets. The paper suggests a technology-neutral, principles-based approach to transparency, built around the assumptions used in the development of AI/ML models and testing of those models, to meet stakeholder needs. In any use of AI/ML, transparency is important to a wide range of stakeholders, as it can demonstrate how an AI/ML model has been developed, how it will be used and monitored, and how it can stand up to scrutiny and challenge. This is crucial for building trust in the technology, both within a firm and with external stakeholders such as clients and regulators. This is the third in a series of white papers produced by AFME’s AI Task Force. The first paper considered the use-cases, benefits and risks of AI in capital markets, while the second paper explored ethical considerations. This third, more technical, white paper discusses the concept of transparency in AI/ML.

The Central Securities Depository Regulation (CSDR) is the latest step in establishing an EU-wide harmonised regulatory framework for financial market infrastructures and promoting safety and stability in financial markets. The regulation covers a wide range of requirements across its phased implementation timeline, the last of which is the Settlement Discipline Regime which comes into force in Sep 2020.

Following the extension of the article 50 period to 31 October 2019, banks are continuing to implement their contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit scenario in light of the ongoing political uncertainty. While a very substantial amount of work has already been undertaken to mitigate risks by both firms and regulators, a no-deal Brexit is likely to have a significant impact on the financial services sector and regulatory and operational challenges remain. We remain focused on addressing the regulatory and operational issues which arise from a no-deal Brexit scenario to avoid cliff edge effects that would significantly affect the financing of the economy and the orderly functioning of markets in the EU27 or the UK. A selection of our publications addressing these issues is included in the appendix. In this paper we take stock of no-deal risks in the financial services sector and highlight areas where further work is needed to mitigate risks of a no-deal scenario and minimise disruption to markets and clients.

Executive summary available inFrench,German,ItalianandSpanish. This paper aims to provide European decision-makers and other stakeholders with a concise overview of AFME’s priority objectives for the European Union in the area of bank prudential and resolution regulation. A broader overview of AFME’s priorities and key recommendations can be found in the accompanying publication “Finance for Europe – Building competitive, resilient and integrated financial markets. A financial services strategy for sustainable growth and competitiveness in 2019–2024”. Priority areas in banking prudential regulation for the new EU legislative cycle Completing the Banking Union The completion of the Banking Union remains a key priority to achieve a stronger monetary union. This includes considering the Banking Union as a single jurisdiction in terms of prudential requirements, achieving effective depositor protection and a solution for a European safe asset. Removing the fragmentation in European banking markets Cross-border banks need to be able to manage their capital and liquidity at a consolidated level and to achieve diversification and economies of scale. This will also help to address their lack of profitability and excess capacity. Together with Capital Markets Union this is a powerful way to share risks and to absorb economic shocks. Achieving an ambitious Capital Markets Union Capital Markets Union (CMU) can increase the diversity of funding sources, reduce the overreliance on banks, and provide the European economy with a ‘spare tyre’ during economic turmoil, when banks’ ability to lend is constrained. Internationally diversified investment portfolios can also help to smooth consumption and investment in case of an economic shock in a specific region. Ensuring openness to global capital markets It is vital for users of financial services – corporates, investors, government bodies - to ensure that global capital markets, including the EU, remain open and closely connected. Avoiding significant increases in capital requirements The EU implementation of the Basel agreement should not result in significant additional capital requirements, in line with the commitment made by global and EU regulators. Promoting global consistency Given the global nature of wholesale banking activities, it is important that global consistency is promoted in respect of the outcomes resulting from the implementation of the prudential standards. {}