European acronyms Archives

Acronyms, it’s like governments and organisations have a subscription on them. The United States love to use them for their agencies: FBI, CSI, NCIS, FCC, etc.
We are in the same boat here in Europe. Our institutions have wonderful names such as: ESMA, OPCW or NATO.
In turn these (European) institutions also like to use them for their regulations. It are these regulations and organisations that I’d like to clarify. Since there are quite a few that specifically impact investors/traders, I created this series.

PRIIPs Regulation Printed On The Side Of A Ring Folder

PRIIPs: Why Europeans can’t buy US funds anymore

Most retail investors that trade on their own already noticed starting 2018. As a European, it’s not possible to buy US-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) anymore.
If you were trying to find out how to get these US-based ETFs in Europe, I hate to burst your bubble, but there is no straight forward for this after a new regulation (no, options aren’t straightforward). The major culprit? PRIIPs.
PRIIPs stands for Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products. Phew, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? No wonder everyone uses the abbreviation.

EU Directive: MIFID II - Markets In Financial Instruments Directive

MiFID (II) explained: How EU is trying to protect its investors

In this post, I’ll clarify MiFID (II) or Market in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation (so not MiFID (II) Directive). I’ll answer the following questions:

What it is
Why it was created
Who it’s for
What impact it has on (retail) investors

Acronyms, who doesn’t love ’em? From the United States with agencies such as FBI, CSI, NCIS, FCC, etc. To Europe with ESMA, OPCW, or NATO. In turn, institutions and organizations like to use them too for their rules.
It are these regulations that I’d like to clarify. Since there are quite a few that specifically impact investors/traders, I created this series.

“European Acronyms” is pretty straight-forward. I go over various terms that appear often in the news and media, and that also has an impact on us investors.

What does MiFID mean in simple terms?

MiFID stands for Market in Financial Instruments Directive. It’s a set of rules that aims to increases transparency across the European Union’s financial market.

The first version of MiFID implemented new measures, such as pre- and post-trade transparency requirements, and created rules of conduct for the EU’s financial firms. the first version of MiFID primarily focused on Over The Counter (OTC) transactions.

You might think that MiFID was created after the 2008 financial crisis, but it actually came into effect prior to that. The EU did make changes in light of the crisis.

How PSD2 will make banking more beneficial for you

Isn’t it frustrating to see how something simple like your various bank statements are still separate per bank. Wouldn’t it be great to automatically import them into your favorite banking app? Well, Europe has you covered. With the new Payment Services Directive (Directive 2015/2366, 2015), usually shortened to PSD2.