Glossary Flashcards
What is aggregation
Multiple client orders are bulked together and processed as a single order. Customers must be notified of this procedure and its advantages and disadvantages.
What is allocation
The division of a single aggregated order between two or more investors’ accounts.
What is appointed representative
An appointed representative can be any type of person (ie, an individual or a company). It they must be a party to a contract with an authorised person that allows it/him to carry on certain regulated activities - and the authorised person must have accepted responsibility for the conduct of these regulated activities in writing.
What’s is approved persons (APER)
Individuals who are approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to undertake controlled functions. These individuals are required to comply with the FCA’s Statements of Principle for Approved Persons and Code of Practice for Approved Persons. Due to the extension of the SM&CR, APER only applies to a limited number of firms.
What is the Financial Services and markets Act (FSMA 2000)
Authorisation
The Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA 2000) requires firms to obtain authorisation prior to conducting investment business.Authorisation is gained by receiving one or more Part 4A Permissions from the FCA and/or the PRA.
What’s the Bank of England
The UK’s central bank which acts as the government’s banker and determines interest rates via its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
What’s the base rate
The minimum rate at which banks will lend money to individuals. In the UK, this is set by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at the Bank of England (BoE).
What’s best execution
Firms take into account not only price factors, but also such issues as costs, speed, likelihood of execution and settlement, and all these in the light of the size and nature of the deal, in determining the means of obtaining the best outcome for a client when executing their deal.
What’s CGT (capital gains tax)
Tax paid on profits realised from selling assets. In the UK, there is an annual exemption limit. CGT is paid at the investor’s highest marginal tax rate, adjusted for losses and the holding period.
What’s Capital Requirements Directive (CRD)?
Formerly known as the Capital Adequacy Directive (CAD), this sets out the financial rules for financial firms. It came into force from 1 January 2007 and applies to banks, building societies and most investment firms. The CRD has been implemented in the UK. The aim of the CRD is to ensure that firms hold adequate financial resources and have adequate systems and controls to prudently manage the business and the associated risks.
What’s Certificate Regime?
This is part of the SM&CR. Individuals will not be approved by the regulators, rather they will be given a certificate by their firm to confirm they are ‘fit and proper’ to perform their role. The PRA and FCA have different criteria as to who is subject to the regime.
What’s Chinese walls
Organisational barriers to the flow of information set up in large firms, to prevent the movement of confidential sensitive information between departments and to manage any potential conflicts of interest.
What’s churning
Excessive trading by a broker in order to generate commission, regardless of the interests of the customer.
What’s a client
Individuals or firms that conduct business through an authorised person. Every client is either a customer (retail or professional) or an eligible counterparty.
What’s Client Assets
Securities or other assets held by a firm on behalf of its clients. The assets have to be kept separate (segregated) from the firm’s own assets.
What’s Code of Practice for Approved Persons
A code established by the FCA with regard to the behaviour of approved persons. Compliance with the code will be an indication of whether or not an approved person has complied with the Statement of Principles for Approved Persons.
What’s Collective Investment Scheme (CIS)
Open-ended funds such as unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICs), also known as investment companies with variable capital (ICVCs).
What’s a Common Platform Firm
Firms subject to either of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II).
What’s a Compulsory Jurisdiction
The range of activities for which complaints fall compulsorily within the jurisdiction of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
What’s Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS)
Rules made by the FCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA 2000) dealing mainly with the relationship between an authorised firm and its clients.
What’s the Conduct Rules
Conduct Rules
This is part of the SM&CR. The PRA and FCA approach will mean that all UK-based employees of relevant firms will be subject to high level conduct rules. There are additional conduct rules for individuals who are classified as performing a Senior Management Function (SMF) under the Senior Managers Regime.
What’s the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)
Measure of inflation used in the UK economy.
See also Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices.
What’s the Contracts of Insurance
Financial products specified by Part Ill of the Regulated Activities Order 2001, with two subdivisions: general and long-term insurance contracts.
What’s the Controlled Functions
Certain roles within authorised firms for which the FCA requires the occupant to be approved.
See Approved Persons.