The specification of common criteria, procedures and requirements should contribute to the development of uniform arrangements in the sphere of accepted market practices (AMPs), improve the clarity of the legal regime under which these practices are permitted and promote fair and efficient conduct among market participants. It should further serve to reinforce the orderly functioning of the market and market integrity.

To ensure that AMPs do not undermine innovation and the continued dynamic development of financial markets, new or emerging market trends that could result in novel market practices should not automatically be assumed to be unacceptable by competent authorities. Rather, those competent authorities should assess whether such market practices comply with the criteria set out in this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

AMPs should be conducted in a manner that ensures market integrity and investor protection without creating risks for other market participants and other related markets. Consequently, due regard should be given to transparency and the conditions governing the market practices proposed for designation as AMPs. When assessing the level of transparency of market practices proposed as AMPs both to the public and to the competent authorities, competent authorities should consider the various stages of the performance of the potential AMPs. Consequently, it is also appropriate to lay down specific transparency requirements for those stages, namely before the AMP is performed by market participants, during its performance and when the market participants cease to perform the AMP.

Market practices that can be established by competent authorities as AMPs can be different in type and nature. When establishing a market practice as an AMP, a competent authority should assess the frequency of the disclosure required from all the persons who will perform it to ensure it is adapted and appropriate to the market practice under consideration. The frequency of disclosure should achieve a balance between the need to inform the public and to provide the competent authority with information for the on-going monitoring and the burden to periodically disclose information by those performing the AMP. Moreover, when assessing a market practice that may be performed outside a trading venue, competent authorities should consider whether the requirement for a substantial level of transparency to the market is met.

Competent authorities that have accepted a market practice should ensure it is monitored adequately with due care and attention. Therefore, persons performing the market practice should be required to keep sufficient records of all transactions and orders undertaken so as to enable competent authorities to fulfil their supervisory functions and to carry out the enforcement actions provided for in Regulation (EU) No 596/2014. It is also of paramount importance that their activity of performing the market practice can be distinguished from the other trading activities they conduct on their own account or on the account of clients. This may be achieved through the maintenance of separate accounts.

The status of the entity performing the accepted market practice is a particular element to be considered, especially when that entity is acting on behalf of or on the account of another person who is the direct beneficiary of the market practice. Competent authorities should assess whether being a supervised person is relevant for the acceptance of the particular market practice under consideration.

When assessing the impact of market practices proposed for designation as AMPs on market liquidity and efficiency, competent authorities should consider the objective of the market practices, for instance, whether, in a particular circumstance, the objective of the market practices is to promote regular trading of illiquid financial instruments, to avoid abusive squeezes, or to provide quotes when there is a risk of not having counterparties for a trade or to facilitate orderly operations where a participant has a dominant position. In relation to price, such objectives could also seek to minimize price fluctuations due to excessive spreads and limited supply or demand of a financial instrument without compromising a market trend, to provide transparency of prices or to facilitate fair evaluation of prices in markets where most trades are conducted outside a trading venue.

This Regulation is based on the draft regulatory technical standards submitted by the European Securities and Markets Authority to the Commission.

The European Securities and Markets Authority has conducted open public consultations on the draft regulatory technical standards on which this Regulation is based, analysed the potential related costs and benefits and requested the opinion of the Securities Markets Stakeholder Group established in accordance with Article 37 of that Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the financial markets, it is necessary that this Regulation enters into force as a matter of urgency and that the provisions laid down in this Regulation apply from the same date as those laid down in Regulation (EU) No 596/2014,