Nasdaq provides financing capabilities to large and small enterprises. This includes initial public offerings as well as share issuance by existing listed companies or also by way of acquisition of existing listed companies.
MiFID is the key European legislation that provides the basis for providing services on financial instruments in Europe. The currently ongoing revision of MiFID is an essential part of many structural reforms in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Confidence in financial and commodities markets is fundamental for the development of the economy; market integrity needs to be guaranteed. The MAD introduced a framework harmonizing core concepts and rules on information disclosure and market abuse.
Efficient cross-border clearing and settlement processes are essential to allow market participants to operate effectively in an integrated EU financial market.
For the protection of investors, Nasdaq believes in setting stringent standards for a company's employees, officers and directors. Implicit in this philosophy is the importance of sound corporate governance.
There are several sets of rules that apply for the issuers. Three EU Directives have been recently reviewed, the Prospectus Directive, which provide a European framework for drawing up a prospectus by an issuer and the Transparency and Accounting Directives.
Transparency and integrity of the commodities markets is one of the goals of the ongoing regulatory reforms. Increased confidence in commodities markets will benefit the users of these markets and the economy at large.
A Financial Transaction Tax has been discussed in the EU bodies and in Member States. While an EU wide tax does not seem feasible, the debate on financial taxation will continue.