The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its latest Spotlight on Markets newsletter, leading with its work to simplify the retail investor journey and make investing more accessible. The edition also highlights the first Trends, Risks and Vulnerabilities report of 2026, which points to a high-risk environment for EU financial markets. The newsletter features ESMA’s annual transparency calculations for equity and equity-like instruments, a joint European Banking Authority and ESMA consultation on revised suitability assessment requirements for banks and investment firms, and ESMA proposals to simplify MiFID II and MiFIR obligations on market data. It also includes a statement supporting the smooth implementation of the Listing Act and simplified prospectus compliance for issuers, alongside coverage of new Q&As, EMIR 3, supervisory and enforcement actions, market abuse guidelines, sustainability reporting, and upcoming events.
European Securities and Markets Authority 2026-04-15
European Securities and Markets Authority publishes Spotlight on Markets newsletter highlighting retail investor simplification and market data reforms
The European Securities and Markets Authority’s latest Spotlight on Markets newsletter focuses on simplifying the retail investor journey and its 2026 Trends, Risks and Vulnerabilities report, which identifies a high-risk environment for EU financial markets. It also covers annual transparency calculations for equity instruments, an EBA-ESMA consultation on revised suitability assessments, proposals to simplify MiFID II/MiFIR market data obligations, measures to support Listing Act and simplified prospectus implementation, and updates on EMIR 3, market abuse, sustainability reporting, and supervisory actions.