GLOSSARY Flashcards
Aggregation
Multiple client orders are bundled up together and processed as a single order.
Customers must be notified of this procedure and its advantages and disadvantages.
Allocation
The division of a single aggregated order between two or more investors’ accounts.
Appointed Representative
Can be any type of person (individual or company).
It/they must be party to a contract with an authorised person which allows it/them to carry out regulated activities, and the authorised person must accept responsibility for the conduct of these regulated activities in writing.
Approved Persons (APER)
Individuals approved by the FCA to undertake controlled functions.
These individuals are forced to comply with the FCA’s Statements of Principle for Approved Persons and Code of Practice for Approved Persons.
With extension of SM&CR, APER now applies to only a limited number of individuals.
Authorisation
The Financial and Services Market Act 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.
Under section 19 FSMA
It constitutes a form of STATUS or CONDITION for the carrying out of a regulated activity.
Bank of England (BoE)
The UK central bank, which acts as the government’s banker and determines interest via the Monetary Policy Committee.
Best Execution
Firms take into account not only price factors but issues such as costs, speed, likelihood of execution and settlement and all these in the light of the size and nature of the deal. Determining the means of obtaining the best outcome for a client.
Capital Requirements Directive (CRD)
Sets out financial rules for financial firms that apply to banks, building societies, and some investment firms.
Aim of CRD is to ensure that firms hold adequate financial resources and have adequate systems and controls to prudently manage the business and risks.
Certification Regime
Part of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR).
Individuals will not be approved by the regulators, rather they will be given a certificate by the firm to confirm they are ‘fit and proper’ to perform their role.
The FCA and the PRA have different criteria as to who is subject to the regime.
Chinese Walls
Barriers to the flow of information set up in large firms, to prevent the movement of confidential information between departments and to manage potential conflicts of interest.
Churning
Excessive trading by an investment firm in order to generate commission, regardless of customers interests
Client
Individuals or firms that conduct business through an authorised person.
Every client is either a customer (retail/professional) or an eligible counterparty.
Client Assets
Securities or other assets (including cash) held by a firm on behalf of its clients.
The assets have to be kept seperate from the firm’s own assets.
Collective Investment Scheme (CIS)
Open ended funds such as unit trusts or open ended investment companies (OEIC) and also known as investment companies with variable capital (ICVCs).
Common Platform Firm
Firms subject to either Capital Requirements Directive (UK CRD) or the UK Markets in Financial Instruments Directive regime (UK MiFID)
Compulsory Jurisdiction
Range of activities for which complaints fall compulsorily within the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
Conduct of Business Rules (COBS) Rules
Rules made by the FCA under the FSMA act 2000 dealing with the relationship between an authorised firm and the clients.
Conduct Rules
Part of the Senior Management and Certification Regime (SM&CR).
The FCA and PRA will approach mean that all UK-based employees of relevant firms will be subject to high level conduct rules.
Additional rules for individuals subject to Senior Managers Regime.
Contracts for Differences
Investment instrument consisting of a contract under which the parties hope to make a profit (or avoid a loss) by reference to movements in the price of an underlying asset.
The underlying asset does not change hands.
Contracts of Insurance
Financial products specified by Part III of the Regulated Activities Order 2001, with two subdivisions: general and long term insurance contracts.
CREST
Recognised Clearing House
Organisation in the UK that facilitated the clearing and settlement of trades in UK and Irish company shares, particularly in dematerialised form.
CREST changes its operating and legal name to Euroclear & Ireland in 2007.
Term CREST is still used for the clearing and settlement system itself.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT (CJA) 1993
Provisions relating to Insider Dealing, including a definition.
DATA PROTECTION ACT (DPA) 2018
Legislation governing how personal data should be held and processed and the rights of access to it.
Designated Investment Exchange (DIE)
Overseas exchange designated by the FCA as meeting certain standards of investor protection in terms of such criteria as market efficiency, transparency and liquidity.
Designated Professional Body (DPB)
Bodies whose members are able to carry on limited financial services business without the need for authorisation from the FCA, providing the limited financial services are incidental to their business.
- Lawyers
- Accountants
- Chartered Surveyors
Directives
Legislation issued by the European Union to members states after requiring them to enact and implement local legislation.
Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR)
FCA Sourcebook; the rules apply to issuers of securities on certain markets.
The aim of the rules is to make provisions to ensure that information relating to publicly related securities is properly handled and disseminated.
Aim of the rules is to implement the Transparency Directive and ensure there is adequate transparency of and access to information in the UK Financial Markets.
Durable Medium
Paper or any instrument which enables the recipient to store information addressed personally to them in a way accessible for future reference for a period of time adequate for the purposes of the information.
Eligible Counterparty (ECP)
A client under UK MiFID client categorisation is either a per se eligible counterparty or an elective eligible counterparty.
A number of MiFID provisions do not apply to activities undertaken by ECPs.
European Economic Area (EEA)
27 member states of the European Union plus Ireland, Litchenstein and Norway.
Allows them to be a part of the EU’s single market
Exempt Persons
Firms exempt from the need to be authorised to carry on regulated activities.
The term includes bodies such as recognised investment exchanges and recognised clearing houses.
Financial Conduct Authority
Replaced the FSA.
Body responsible for regulating conduct in retail/wholesale markets, supervising the trading infrastructure that supports the markets.
Prudential regulation of those not regulated by the PRA.
FCA Handbook
Documents containing FCA Rules and Guidance
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
Body established to investigate and determine the outcome of complaints made by eligible complainants.
The FOS can make awards, when appropriate, up to maximum threshold limit plus costs
Financial Policy Committee (FPC)
Responsible for monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systems risk with a view to enhancing and protection the UK financial system.
Financial Services Act 2012
Primary legislation through the government-enacted reforms to the UK financial services regulatory structure.
Its main role is to amend the FSMA 2000 and replace the FSA with the FCA, setting out their additional powers.
Financial Services Act 2016
Strengthens the governance and accountability of the Bank of England.
- ending subsidiary status of the PRA
- allows the National Audit Office to undertake money reviews of the Bank
- protects tax payers from firm failure
- updating resolution planning and crisis management arrangements between the Bank and Treasury, ensuring senior managers across financial services can be held accountable for failures that occur on their watch.