News Centre

Antitrust: European Commission Fines Romanian Power Exchange OPCOM For Discriminating Against EU Electricity Traders

Date 05/03/2014

The European Commission has imposed a fine of just over € 1 million on S.C. OPCOM S.A. for abusing its dominant position in the Romanian market for facilitating electricity spot trading, in breach of EU antitrust rules. OPCOM operates the only power exchange in Romania. Power exchanges are organised markets for trading electricity. Spot trading means trading in the short run (e.g. within the same day or for the next day). The Commission found that OPCOM discriminated against EU-based electricity traders from outside Romania for over five years.

Joaquín Almunia, Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy, said: "Power exchanges are key to the efficient functioning of energy markets, in the best interest of consumers. OPCOM’sabusive behaviour prevented EU traders from joining the Romanian power exchange's spot markets, creating an artificial barrier to entry in breach of EU competition rules. National barriers of this type do not only hamper the completion of a Single Market in energy, but also stand in the way of the development of efficient, liquid markets." (see also the statement)

Statement By European Commission Vice-President Joaquín Almunia On Antitrust Decisions On Power Exchanges

Date 05/03/2014

Today the Commission adopted two antitrust decisions related to power exchanges - the platforms where electricity is traded.

Insurance Services Provider REG (UK) Selects DataArt As Sole Technology Partner For Regulatory Compliance Platform - DataArt And REG (UK) Cut Insurance Industry’s 1-4 Week Business Agreement Processes (TOBA) To 24 Hours Or Less

Date 05/03/2014

DataArt, a custom software development partner for the financial services and other industries, today announced it has completed the development of Regulatory Efficiency Gains (“REG”)’s digital platform. The online tool, which went “live” in early February, will help FCA-approved and global insurance intermediaries streamline their compliance processes, cut costs and facilitate business dealings between counterparties. The solution is a standalone online network and compliance platform which requires no further IT integration with Members.

Warsaw Stock Exchange Derivatives Market In February 2014

Date 05/03/2014

• The volume of trading in all derivatives was 0.87 million instruments in February 2014
• The number of open interest was 323.3 thousand at the end of February 2014
• The volume of trading in mWIG40 futures was 10.1 thousand contracts in February 2014, an increase of 594%  year on year. 

£75 Trillion Payment Systems Industry To Have New Regulator – UK’s Financial Conduct Authority Will Open The Market To New Entrants To Improve Competition

Date 05/03/2014

A new regulator to oversee UK payment systems will be introduced by April 2015. Payment systems make every payment to or from UK consumers possible, by allowing funds to be transferred between people and businesses. Today the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has asked for views on the key issues facing the payments sector.

Palestine Exchange Monthly Investor Newsletter- February 2014

Date 05/03/2014

Click here to the download the February 2014 edition of the PEX Monthly Investor Newsletter.

SGX Asian Index Futures Contracts Gain CTFC approval

Date 05/03/2014

Singapore Exchange (SGX) is pleased that U.S. investors can now trade its latest suite of Asian index futures with ease:

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority: Interest Rate Hedging Products Redress Scheme: Monthly Update

Date 05/03/2014

View the latest figures on the Interest Rate Hedging Product redress scheme.

Palestine Capital Market Authority (PCMA) A Member Of The International Organization Of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)

Date 05/03/2014

The Palestine Capital Market Authority (PCMA) became a Member of The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). 

Malawi Stock Exchange Monthly Market Performance Report - February 2014

Date 05/03/2014

Click here to download Malawi Stock Exchange's monthly market performance report for February 2014.

.