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Market Structure


CFA Institute EMEA Membership Survey: Effects of MiFID II and PRIIPs on product governance in the EU asset management industry

CFA Institute surveyed European members on product governance practices over time and the specific effects major regulatory developments like MiFID II and PRIIPs have had in this respect.

Where Markets Fail: Markets Are Not Systemic

Markets are usually not systemic. Instead, from the bird’s-eye perspective of "Capitalism," many businesses are "opportunities" in the same way that it feels good to hit yourself in the head with a hammer: It's much better once you stop.

Book Review: Trading and Electronic Markets

Going beyond the traditional fundamentals of trading that are covered in academia, Larry Harris, CFA, explores the motivations and goals of the wide spectrum of traders, including profit-motivated traders, utilitarian traders, and the newest breed of traders — those resulting from the growth of electronic markets. Understanding other market participants’ motives allows traders to determine the most opportune time to trade.

Beyond Flash Boys: Improving Transparency and Fairness in Financial Markets

Are markets rigged in favor of some investors now that dark pools and high-frequency trading (HFT) are ubiquitous? Ronan Ryan of IEX Group says that harnessing technological advances can help ameliorate market fragmentation and improve the functioning of markets for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

What Challenges Do Microfinance and Crowdfunding Face?

Alternative finance has huge potential in the developing world, crowdfunding especially. Will it “fuel ‘the Rise of the Rest?’” What are the hurdles? How does blockchain fit in?

In Fintech Era, Harvesting Signals in Words to Forecast Volatility and Returns

How reporters’ word choices, their sentiment and unusualness, can forecast market performance up to six months out.

Book Review: The Handbook of Market Design

This handbook provides an insightful set of articles on the impact of economics and game theory on the development of structures to solve market design problems. Bringing together the latest research in this growing field, the editors provide a detailed overview on how market mechanisms can be used to solve problems of matching and exchange.

Chinese Shadow Banking: Risks and Rewards

One CFA Institute analyst shares his firsthand introduction to Chinese shadow banking, and why it’s too tempting for many investors to pass up.

The Financial Economists Roundtable Weighs in on Financial Transaction Taxes

Proposals to tax financial transactions are popular now, and many concerns motivate these proposed taxes. Although many members of the Financial Economists Roundtable recognize and respect these concerns, they believe that governments should be extremely wary of imposing or increasing financial transaction taxes, which can have highly negative consequences with respect to the revenue raised.

IPOs, Regulation, and Exchange Liquidity: Views from Vienna (Video)

In this short video interview, Michael Buhl, shares the perspective of the Vienna Stock Exchange on issues concerning initial public offerings, regulatory developments, dark pools, and high-frequency trading.