MiFID will fundamentally alter the structure of European securities markets, in a way that possibly no other EU regulation has done so far. With an in-depth understanding of this new EU directive, this handbook looks at the different aspects and implications of the different business lines in financial markets.

The Market in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) is nothing short of a revolution. Introduced on 1 November 2007, it will have a profound, long-term impact on Europe's securities markets. It will see banks operating as exchanges for certain activities, offering alternative execution services that more closely resemble the structure of over-the-counter markets, and will lead to the decentralisation of order execution in an array of venues previously governed by concentration rules. Crucially, MiFID will also have a profound impact on the organisation and business strategies of investment firms, exchanges, asset managers and other financial markets intermediaries. Until now, analysis has focused on the directive's short term implementation issues. This book focuses on the long term strategic implications associated with MiFID, and will be essential reading for anybody who recognises that their firm will need to make constant dynamic readjustments in order to remain competitive in this challenging new environment.