As of 1 January 2021, FI will implement new procedures for how it announces opened and closed supervision investigations.
Due to Brexit, ESMA will have a maintenance window from 31 December 2020 through (preliminarily) 7 January 2021.
What will happen in the event that the transition period ends without an agreement between the EU and the UK.
The pandemic has triggered a deep economic recession in many countries, even if a slight recovery has begun. Extensive support measures have mitigated the economic impact and reduced the uncertainty on the financial markets. During the autumn, infection rates have once again begun to increase and several countries have introduced new restrictions, which will dampen the economic recovery, even though it is uncertain to which extent.
An increase in the spread of the coronavirus will dampen the recovery in European economies and, in the long run, this could impact financial stability, writes Finansinspektionen (FI) in this year’s second stability report, which will be published today.
Henrik Braconier, Chief Economist at FI, spoke on risks related to low interest rates at SNS/SHOF’s Finance Panel: Corporate Finance in a Low Interest Rate Environment.
The access of non-financial firms to credit is central for financial stability, particularly during financial crises. In recent years, the market for corporate bonds has grown steadily and currently plays an important role in firms’ financing. This analysis shows that it has not been easier to issue corporate bonds in Swedish krona during financial crises than to take a bank loan. This pattern deviates from previous research on the USA and the euro zone.
On Friday, 16 October, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, TRS 2 will be closed for maintenance.
Today, FI launches a new Short Selling Register for significant net short positions.
Erik Thedéen, Finansinspektionen's Director General and Chair of IOSCO's Task Force on Sustainable Finance made a speech at the conference Driving Global Standards on Sustainable Finance.
Today, FI launches a new reporting system for the reporting of net short positions: the Short Selling Online Reporting tool.
This week, FI will launch a new reporting system for the reporting of net short positions: the Short Selling Online Reporting tool.
Swedbank has written in a press release that FI is investigating potential breaches of the Market Abuse Act. Given that the company has chosen to disclose information about the investigation, FI confirms that the information is correct. FI has opened an investigation.
FI's Director General Erik Thedéen took part in a panel discussion during the conference "Consumer Behavior in Financial Markets", arranged by the Swedish House of Finance at the Stockholm School of Economics today.
On Friday, 28 August, TRS 2 will be closed for maintenance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has incurred large human and economic costs and also affected the financial sector. Maintaining own funds in financial institutions is important both for ensuring the resilience of the financial system and supporting banks' lending through this crisis.
The Swedish fixed-income market – which consists of the bond market, the money market and interest rate derivatives – is important for the government, municipalities, banks and firms to be able to finance their operations and manage risks. It is therefore of central importance to understand how these markets function and, more specifically, how liquid they are. This FI Analysis presents a new method for measuring market liquidity that focuses on government bonds and covered bonds.
In the autumn of 2020, Finansinspektionen will introduce a new reporting system for the reporting of net short positions: the Short Selling Online Reporting tool.
On 18 August 2020, FI will introduce a new log-in method for periodic reporting filed via an application on the computer and that previously required a card and card reader. The new method requires users to log in using Bank ID.
Governments, central banks, and authorities around the world have taken powerful measures to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. These measures also helped dampen uncertainty on the financial markets. By utilising available buffers and continuing to lend to firms and households, the financial sector can dampen the impact of the crisis. It is also important to remember that the economic crisis is not over, and uncertainty is therefore high, notes Finansinspektionen (FI) in its first stability report of the year.
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an exceptional stress for the real economy. Governments, central banks and supervisory authorities have implemented significant measures to dampen the crisis. This has helped to reduce the uncertainty on the financial markets. But we are in still in the middle of the crisis, and there is considerable uncertainty going forward.
Finansinspektion (FI) immediately withdraws the authorisation for Exceed Capital Sverige AB. Under FI’s decision, the company loses all its authorisations and may no longer conduct regulated business. The decision will be presented by FI Director General Erik Thedéen and Chief Legal Counsel Eric Leijonram at a press conference today, Tuesday, 2 June, at 2:00 PM.
Finansinspektionen withdraws all Exceed Capital Sverige AB’s (Exceed) authorisations to conduct securities business and its authorisation for ancillary services, authorisation to conduct insurance distribution, and authorisation to be registered as a manager of fund units.
The global sustainability network NGFS (Network for Greening the Financial System) is publishing today a report on how banks around the world consider climate-related risks in their lending. The report shows that this is occurring more frequently, but it is at the same time difficult to see which loans constitute a lower risk. This is because, for example, there is no international classification and a shared perception of which assets are “green” and “brown”.
JM has been in violation of the international financial reporting standard IFRS 10 in its consolidated financial statements for 2017 by not including – consolidating – tenant-owners associations during the so-called production phase. FI is issuing JM a caution and ordering the company to take corrective action in future financial statements. The correction shall be implemented no later than in the company’s half-yearly report for 2020.
FI decided on 1 April given the acute stage of the coronavirus pandemic to extend the freeze on new supervision investigations until 3 May. This decision will not be extended again, which means that the freeze on ongoing supervision meetings, investigations and information gathering will be lifted starting on 4 May.
The Swedish Bankers’ Association has announced that the association is transferring the administration of the Swedish benchmark STIBOR to Swedish Financial Benchmark Facility (SFBF), whereupon the task of adapting STIBOR to the requirements set out in the EU Benchmarks Regulation falls to SFBF. Finansinspektionen will assess the application for authorisation of SFBF as administrator of STIBOR when it is submitted.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published new Q&As on its guidelines for alternative performance measures (APMs). ESMA aims with this document to continue to promote common application of the guidelines in the EU countries.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a statement on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the possibilities for managers of different types of funds to fulfil the requirements on when publication of periodic reports is to occur according to their respective regulations.
Due to the current situation with the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, Finansinspektionen has postponed the deadline for the annual reporting on money laundering and financing of terrorism. The deadline has been pushed forward from 31 March 2020 to 30 April 2020.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a statement on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the possibilities of listed companies to fulfil the requirements on when publication of financial statements is to occur according to the Transparency Directive. The Directive has been implemented into Swedish law through the Securities Market Act.
During an extraordinary meeting today, Monday, 16 March, FI’s Board of Directors decided to adopt a countercyclical buffer rate of 0 per cent in accordance with the proposal presented on Friday, 13 March 2020.
“There are interesting ideas about placing parts of this supervision at the EU level. I believe that joint analytical resources and supervision methods in the long run could lead to more effective supervision, in part due to improved insight into cross-border payment flows”, asserted Erik Thedéen at the international conference Finance Summit 2020 in Paris.
The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is having a financial impact on firms and households around the world. There is considerable uncertainty about how much the disease will impact the global economy. This economic uncertainty also affects the financial system.
The rate at which household debt is increasing has slowed the past three years. The two amortisation requirements that FI introduced contributed to this change. But the low interest rates entail risks. The debt of commercial real estate companies has been increasing sharply, and the banks have large exposures to the sector. FI decided today to raise the capital requirements for bank loans for commercial real estate. Erik Thedéen also noted that cyber threats are a challenge facing society as a whole, and cooperation is needed on a broad front.
Finansinspektionen (FI) will prioritise two consumer protection risks for further work in 2020: unaffordable lending and unsuitable advice and distribution of financial products to consumers who were not part of the product’s original intended target market. FI will also assess the adequacy of claims handling for home insurance.
The IP addresses for the production and test environment will change for TRSII SFTP. This change will go into effect on 24 February.
FI will explore the possibility of advocating both nationally and internationally increased disclosure of firms’ internal carbon pricing.
On 17 February 2020, FI is introducing a new portal for reporting stock exchange information (previously called “financial reports”) and major shareholding notifications. The new log-in requires BankID and will completely replace the old method of logging in. However, the reporting procedure itself has not been altered and reports are submitted exactly the same way as before.
From Monday, 2 December, to Tuesday, 10 December, all of FI’s reporting systems will experience service disruptions or closures due to planned maintenance and updates. The extent to which individual systems will be affected will vary.
The low interest rates are expected to remain low for a longer period of time. It could lead to greater risk-taking among various actors, and increased challenges for insurance undertakings.
Finansinspektionen (FI) strengthened its anti-money laundering supervision in 2019, in part by dedicating considerable resources to reviewing major Swedish banks’ governance and control of anti-money laundering measures in Baltic subsidiaries.
Finansinspektionen is granting Euroclear Sweden AB authorisation to act as a central securities depository under Regulation (EU) No 909/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on improving securities settlement in the European Union and on central securities depositories (CSDR).
Transparency on the Swedish bond markets has decreased. This is the conclusion of Finansinspektionen’s (FI) analysis of the impact of the transparency rules that were introduced when the Directive and the Regulation for the securities market entered into force in 2018.
A disorderly and abrupt increase in international market rates could lead to significantly higher term and equity risk premia. This is the conclusion of an analysis conducted by FI.
Finansinspektionen (FI) has decided that Reinhold Europe AB must pay an administrative fine of SEK 750,000.
Finansinspektionen (FI) has decided that StrateVic Finance Group AB must pay an administrative fine of SEK 1,500,000.
FI’s Director General spoke today at the Finansdagen conference in Stockholm.
FI’s Director General Erik Thedéen was reappointed to the Management Board of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for a further 2½ year term.
Erik Thedéen made the introductory speech at the first IOSCO SFN Stakeholder Meeting in Stockholm.
Finansinspektionen (FI) has decided that Hoylu AB (Hoylu) must pay an administrative fine of SEK 2.1 million due to deficiencies in following the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). Hoylu, a company in the field of communication, is an issuer listed on Nasdaq First North.
Finansinspektionen (FI) considers the firms in the Swedish financial system to have sufficient resilience for withstanding a weaker economy. However, commercial real estate firms are vulnerable to shocks. FI therefore makes the assessment that the banks need more capital for these exposures. This is one of the conclusions in FI’s first stability report for the year, which is being presented today.
Both the global and the Swedish economies appear to be slowing down. Low interest rates – which have resulted in high risk-taking and rising asset prices – are expected to remain low for a prolonged period of time. Resilience in the Swedish financial system is satisfactory in general. However, even if the banks’ resilience is satisfactory overall, FI makes the assessment that they need more capital to cover the risks in their lending to commercial real estate firms.
Heads of the Nordic and Baltic financial supervisors met today in Stockholm. They agreed on measures to enhance the cooperation between the authorities with the aim of fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.
On Wednesday, 29 April 2019, the test environment of TRS2 will be closed and not available due to an upgrade to a new version of the system. Finansinspektionen will announce when the system is available again.
In this report, Finansinspektionen (FI) presents the most prioritised consumer risks it has identified for 2019. FI also presents the experiences from its consumer protection work over the past year. Finally, FI identifies two areas on the financial market where consumer protection is clearly deficient and proposes regulatory changes to fill these gaps.
This FI Analysis describes how Swedish covered bonds function, how the regulation governing the cover pool is designed and how the cover pool is affected by a fall in house prices.
On Wednesday, 20 February, the TRS 2 system will not be available at the beginning of the day due to a service window. The system is planned to reopen after 4 p.m.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced that the transition to the new XML Schema and updated validation rules will not occur on Monday, 18 February 2019, as earlier planned. It will now be postponed until Q3 2019.
The Nordic and Baltic financial stability authorities have conducted a joint financial crisis management exercise. The exercise was held from 22 to 23 January 2019 and involved 31 authorities from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden as well as relevant European Union authorities. A staff member of the International Monetary Fund observed the simulation.
FI is continuing to analyse the event that occurred in September 2018 when a member on the commodity market was declared in default. We describe here several of the issues that FI is currently analysing. We are also publishing a discussion paper that FI wrote to contribute to an ongoing international discussion on auctions as a method to manage a default in a central counterparty.
At the moment, Friday, 7 December, the TRS 2 system is unable to create FD files (daily feedback).
Reference rates are important since they are used in many financial contracts, and it is therefore crucial that they are fair, transparent and accurately reflect the underlying market.
Low interest rates have contributed to high risk-taking, rising asset prices and increasing debt. Higher interest rates in the next few years could reduce risk-taking and thus dampen the build-up of risk. However, unexpectedly large interest rate fluctuations and uncertain global developments could also test the financial sector’s resilience. These are some of the conclusions Finansinspektionen (FI) draws in this year’s second report on the stability in the financial system. The report will be presented at a press conference today.
The economy continues to be strong, both in Sweden and globally, but it is now showing signs of a slow-down. Interest rates have been low for a long period of time, which has led to high risk-taking and rising asset prices. As a result, the risks in the financial system are elevated. The resilience in the Swedish financial system is satisfactory in general but continued high growth in debt fuelled by lending and investments related to residential property and commercial real estate require monitoring.
On Monday, 26 November, TRS 2 was upgraded to a new system version.
Despite the positive progression over the past few weeks, there is still some uncertainty surrounding Brexit. FI has previously identified the limited access to clearing services as one of the consequences of Brexit that could have a major impact on Swedish firms. The European Commission’s communication that it will take action to manage risks to financial stability that are associated with clearing is therefore welcomed. At the same time, though, a hard Brexit could create other types of frictions that affect Swedish firms. It is therefore of utmost importance that Swedish firms continue to prepare for Brexit.
FI is extending the ongoing maintenance and upgrade of the production environment in the TRS2 system until further notice.
FI is publishing today three reports on sustainability. The reports show that the work with sustainability is progressing on several fronts and that the industry’s own initiatives, where relevant, are working. But there is still a lot of work left to be done. FI is also publishing a follow-up report for the Government on FI's work with sustainability-related matters in 2018.
Sustainability-related risks and opportunities do not differ from the other risks and opportunities that can be linked to financial firms’ operations. Therefore, sustainability should not be managed in limited areas of corporate governance, but rather be an integral part of corporate governance as a whole. In this survey, FI studied how financial firms describe their management of sustainability aspects in corporate governance and how these aspects are integrated into the operations.
FI has conducted a number of supervision activities related to sustainability at the same time as the organisation has been partly restructured and received additional resources. During the year, FI's work has focused on integrating sustainability-related matters into its ongoing supervision, a project that will continue and be intensified.
The members of the international Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) acknowledge in their first report that climate-related risks are a source of financial risk. The Network therefore clarifies that it is within the mandates of central banks and supervisors to ensure the financial system is resilient to climate-related risks.
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) decided today to create a Sustainable Finance Network (SFN).
Finansinspektionen has an ongoing dialogue with Nasdaq Clearing given that the company decided to declare a member in the firm’s commodity market in default. Finansinspektionen is also in contact with other affected authorities and organisations.
Nasdaq Clearing AB has decided to declare a clearing member in the firm’s commodity market in default. The member is active in the electricity derivatives markets through trading on the Norwegian Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Oslo ASA. These financial instruments are centrally cleared in Nasdaq Clearing AB, a firm under Finansinspektionen’s (FI’s) supervision.
Finansinspektionen proposes to raise the countercyclical buffer rate to 2,5 percent. The rate is currently at 2 percent. The change will be effective from the 19 September 2019.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) published on 3 July 2018 a statement on the exemption for pension scheme arrangements (PSAs) from the clearing obligation. The objective of the statement is to avoid, to the extent possible, disruption after 17 August 2018 when the current exemption for PSAs from the clearing obligation expires.
ESMA published new information on 20 June 2018 regarding the LEI requirements under MiFIR. The publication confirms that the last day for the temporary period that was brought-in in December 2017 to allow for a smooth introduction of the LEI requirements will be 2 July 2018.
On Wednesday, 27 June, there will be operational disturbances in the TRS2 production environment due to an upgrade to a new system version.
Finansinspektionen is making changes to the reporting of holdings for funds. The changes will go into effect in January 2019.The changes to the reporting aim to achieve more effective supervision of both individual funds and the fund market as a whole.
Brexit will become a reality when the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019. This will change conditions for cross-border trade in financial services to and from the UK. FI describes in this report its analysis of a number of significant economic and legal aspects related to Brexit.
Over the past year, FI has primarily intervened against small-volume trading and ”wash trades” that were carried out deliberately or negligently by private individuals. The financial undertakings’ reporting plays a key role in FI’s possibilities for intervening against market abuse. FI’s cooperation with EBM has contributed to the development of this work. These are the three conclusions in FI’s report, Market Abuse 2017–2018.
On Friday, 8 June, the TRS 2 production environment will still be closed for maintenance.
On Thursday, 7 June, the TRS 2 production environment will be closed for maintenance.
The Swedish economy continues to be strong, and resilience in the financial system is satisfactory. However, a long period of low interest rates and strong growth has resulted in an elevated risk appetite, high asset prices and high debt globally, among Swedish households and on the commercial real estate market. The high level of indebtedness makes the financial sector more sensitive to shocks, and, if necessary, FI will take additional measures to strengthen the resilience.
The Swedish economy continues to be strong, and resilience in the financial system is satisfactory. However, a long period of low interest rates and strong growth has resulted in an elevated risk appetite, high asset prices and high debt. This makes the financial sector more sensitive to shocks, writes Finansinspektionen (FI) in the first Stability Report of the year, which is being presented today.
FI has surveyed 25 funds of funds managed by 25 fund management companies and AIF managers. FI has scrutinised how the consumer is informed about fees and how the managers have reported their funds of funds’ objectives and performance.
On Thursday, 3 May, the TRS 2 production environment will experience operational disruptions due to an upgrade to a new system version.
Pursuant to the Supervision of Public-Interest Entities (Audit) Act (2016:429), FI is responsible for conducting certain audit supervision activities. FI has conducted an investigation into this supervisory area in 2017. This report provides an overview of the investigation’s results and describes FI’s view on how the regulations can be applied.
Finansinspektionen (FI) is issuing Solidar Fonder AB (Solidar) a warning. The company must also pay an administrative fine of SEK 10 million.
On Friday,13 April, TRS 2 will be closed for maintenance.
It is FI’s assessment that firms in general have a greater awareness of the regulations than in previous investigations and are committing more resources to their work to prevent money laundering. But more needs to be done.
Finansinspektionen's Director General Erik Thedéen has been re-elected as Vice-Chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions' (IOSCO) European Regional Committee (ERC) for the period 2018-2020.
FI has updated the instructions and FAQs about the periodic reporting firms under Finansinspektionen’s supervision are required to file according to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
FI has translated into English its educational videos about efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Swedish Ministry of Finance, the Riksbank, Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority) and the Swedish National Debt Office in its role as resolution authority, have produced, together with their equivalents in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway a new Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and coordination on cross-border financial stability.
Finansinspektionen is responsible for macroprudential policy in Sweden, which includes both promoting financial stability and counteracting financial imbalances. We are also tasked with promoting a high level of consumer protection on the financial markets. One of the reasons that we have been given the responsibility for macroprudential policy is that financial crises have proven themselves to be very expensive.
The international Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) held its inaugural meeting in Paris last week.
Finansinspektionens Director General Erik Thedéens speech in the Standing Committee on Finance the 23 januari 2018.
FI establishes its adaptation to the new transparency rules that will go into effect on 3 January 2018 in conjunction with the new European regulatory framework: the Directive and the Regulation on markets in financial instruments (MiFID II/MiFIR).
In accordance with the announcement published on 7 December 2017, FI has carried out supplementary transparency calculations for equity instruments and bonds admitted for trading on a Swedish trading venue in November and December 2017.
Finansinspektionen (FI) has identified common errors in the AIFM reporting. FI includes below a list of the most common errors as well as a description of how AIF-managers should fill in the rows in ESMA’s reporting forms.
ESMA, the European Securities and Markets Authority, has published transparency calculations for equities and bonds prior to the entry into force of MiFIR/MiFID II on 3 January 2018. FI will also publish some supplementary calculations.
FI is establishing a fintech innovation centre that will provide information to and maintain a dialogue with companies conducting innovation-based business. This centre and additional initiatives are presented in FI's report to the Government regarding an assignment.
The Swedish economy continues to be strong and interest rates are extremely low, which contributes to high asset prices and low risk premiums. As global interest rates rise in the future, there is a risk for an abrupt increase in risk premiums and a fall in asset prices, which could be stressful for the financial system.
The last trading date for transactions in financial instruments that must be reported to FI’s current transaction reporting system, TRS, is 2 January 2018. The TRS system will be open until 23:59 PM on 12 January 2018 to receive transactions and/or cancellations of transactions in accordance with MiFID with trading dates up to an including 2 January 2018.
There will be operational disruptions in the TRS 1 system today, 20 November 2017. The disruptions affect rapporteurs submitting encrypted files.
On 1 August, the new Money Laundering Act entered into force as well as FI’s new regulations. According to these new regulations, firms under FI’s supervision must report data that enables FI to assess the risk that firms will be used for money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Finansinspektionen was late with its publication of a short-selling notification from Coatue Management.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published instructions on how to access the reference data that is covered by the MAR and MiFID II/MiFIR regulations. The EU authority has also published current reference data that is available for download.
Finansinspektionen has responded to the Commission Consultation Document on FinTech: A more competitive and innovative European Financial Sector.
A new webpage is now available with information about the transaction reporting required under MiFID 2/MiFIR.
In 2016, FI's analysis of trends and risks on the securities market focused on the subareas fixed income market, derivatives market and equity market.
Finansinspektionen (FI) monitors that the market complies with the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR).
It is likely that automated services will play a greater role on the financial market. Finansinspektionen (FI) views an online market with simplified investment advice as a step in the right direction in terms of achieving an independent market for investment advice that reaches a wide number of consumers.
FI believes that independent financial advice would play an important role on the savings market, since consumers are at an information disadvantage in relation to producers of saving products while at the same time having to take more responsibility for their financial future.
Finansinspektionen is monitoring the developments following the EU referendum in the UK. We are continuing to maintain a dialogue with the Ministry of Finance, the Riksbank and the Swedish National Debt Office and keep close contact with the Swedish banks. FI always has contingency plans in place to take measures that will contribute to financial stability.
As of February of this year, new rules apply for how notification is made about a home Member State. This text provides a brief description of what the new rules entail.
FI Director General Erik Thedéen has been named Vice-Chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions' (IOSCO) European Regional Committee for the period 2016-2018.
FI is issuing its Securities Market Supervision Report for the second consecutive year. The report discusses the issues that FI currently considers to be most relevant. FI also describes in the report the developments on the Swedish securities market over the past year.
Finansinspektionen proposes partial waiver from the requirements in Article 129 (1)(c) of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) through a change in FI´s regulation (FFFS 2014:12) regarding prudential requirements and capital buffers.
An overview of some of the legislative amendments following the entry of the revised Transparency Directive (2013/50/EU) into Swedish law on 1 February 2016.
Trig Social Media AB has, in an interim report, on a number of points neglected the provisions regarding periodic financial information. Finansinspektionen has therefore decided to issue the company with a caution for having breached the accounting rules.
The market for covered bonds is important for bank funding and therefore financial stability. The requirements for banks to hold more capital and liquidity for their operations have been tightened since the financial crisis. These requirements affect the banks' costs of holding securities in the trading book and so their costs of acting as market makers.
Three key areas are the focus of FI's new report Supervision of the securities market; financial infrastructure, transparency on the securities market as well as new rules for market supervision and the enforcement of financial information.
By a decision made on May 12th 2014, Finansinspektionen has decided that Reinhold Europe AB (formerly Reinhold Polska AB) shall pay a penalty fee of SEK 1 500 000 for the failure to publish periodic financial information.