Russia ETF suspensions spark fresh calls for European exchange harmonisation City Kings Holdings

The case for harmonisation throughout European exchanges has been made once more following a chaotic few weeks for the ETF market after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Fragmentation has lengthy been a priority throughout the European ETF panorama and the multilateral construction confronted but extra exams on the finish of February after the west unleashed a wave of financial sanctions on Russia resulting in the non permanent closure of the Moscow Inventory Trade.

A dramatic sequence of occasions unravelled that first noticed issuers droop creation and redemption orders on their Russian fairness ETFs, adopted by exchanges globally halting buying and selling on the merchandise, shutting off the secondary market and leaving them in an “unprecedented position”.

Nevertheless, the velocity at which European exchanges took motion differed throughout the continent, which means ETFs have been left having the ability to commerce in a single a part of Europe and never in one other, regardless of experiencing the identical risky market circumstances.

For instance, Six Swiss Trade suspended buying and selling on four ETFs on 8 March, four days later than Euronext, Borsa Italiana, Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Behavioural variations

Jim Goldie, head of capital markets, EMEA, and listed methods, at Invesco, which runs the Invesco RDX UCITS ETF (RDXS) listed on the LSE and Borsa Italiana, stated the initially inconsistent view taken by itemizing venues on the continual buying and selling of the merchandise disrupted the bid/provide quotes market makers have been capable of provide.

“Market makers will usually quote pretty persistently between particular person listings of the identical fund and from an issuers perspective we don’t differentiate between venues when analysing spreads/quotes between listings,” he stated.

“The apparent caveat lately was almost about Russia-focused ETFs when itemizing venues initially didn’t undertake a constant view on the continual buying and selling of the impacted merchandise. Nevertheless, this was an extremely uncommon market occasion and the dynamics have been altering in a short time, so figuring out methods to deal with these listings was removed from the usual course of enterprise.”

Goldie added Invesco was in fixed engagement with the exchanges and that its suspension request was granted by the exchanges on the identical day.

Nevertheless, the identical can’t be stated for 4 ETFs listed on Six Swiss, comprising the iShares MSCI Russia ADR/GDR UCITS ETF (CSRU), the iShares MSCI Eastern Europe Capped UCITS ETF (IEER), the HSBC MSCI Russia Capped UCITS ETF (HRUB) and the Lyxor MSCI Russia UCITS ETF (RUSE).

What next as Russia ETFs remain in unchartered territory?

Frank Mohr, international head of ETF gross sales buying and selling at Société Générale, stated total volatility brought on by the Russia-Ukraine exhibits the mechanisms and the infrastructure of the ETF ecosystem is strong, however that it highlighted the necessity for extra harmonisation throughout exchanges.

“The Russian invasion boosted volatility, however it confirmed the merchandise are good. We have been working very carefully with issuers and the exchanges,” he stated.

“Nevertheless, I want to see an enchancment within the totally different behaviours on exchanges. You have got totally different guidelines and laws whether or not in Frankfurt, London or Switzerland. It might be a good suggestion to cooperate extra and align extra on a European foundation.”

A similar issue occurred because the speedy unfold of coronavirus spooked markets in March 2020. Peak volatility led to a mean of round 3,000 circuit breakers – non permanent buying and selling suspensions – affecting ETFs every day throughout the foremost European exchanges. With a unique algorithm for every trade, cross-listed ETFs have been suspended at totally different occasions.

The size of fragmentation throughout the European market is stark. Europe has over 80 issuers working throughout 30 exchanges in 25 international locations and 13 currencies, in accordance with information from Blackwater Search & Advisory.

Broadly talking the principle exchanges will comply with related approaches however might have slight variations concerning itemizing processes, market-making incentives, public sale mechanisms, minimal quote and unfold thresholds.

Within the case of Russia and the coronavirus volatility, every trade will likely be reacting topic to its personal algorithm and nationwide or European regulation.

For instance, Six Swiss Trade instructed ETF Stream there are a number of mechanisms beneath which exchanges will cooperate, however within the context of Russia, exchanges will not be taking unilateral selections however are reacting to course from related authorities.

A spokesperson for Six Swiss stated: “The exchanges don’t have to align as they’re reliant on nationwide authorities to impose restrictions, which can differ on account of nationwide circumstances, political selections and implementation timelines.

“This isn’t fragmentation. It’s organisations implementing restrictions as imposed by authorities. If buyers selected to limit exercise which matches additional than any authorized sanction that’s completely respectable however is a person organisations selection.”

Euronext, Deutsche Boerse and the London Inventory Trade declined to remark.

Pushed off market

Goldie added some exchanges have taken measures – similar to adjusting their public sale mechanisms for ETPs – to advertise a harmonised ecosystem the place potential and famous the acquisition of Borsa Italiana by Euronext also needs to assist.

“As an business, we proceed to work carefully with the trade venues to determine areas the place we will proceed to reinforce the ecosystem for buying and selling ETPs,” he continued. “The current acquisition of Borsa Italiana by Euronext also needs to result in some synergies on this regard.”

Regardless of this, he stated the character of the European market means fragmentation is unavoidable whereas the perceived lack of liquidity created solely drives buyers to commerce over-the-counter (OTC).

Nearly all of trades are performed OTC, and due to this mixed with fragmentation, there isn’t any consolidated tape making true transparency elusive.

Mohr stated: “A standard understanding behaviour may assist be much more environment friendly within the pricing of the merchandise. Ultimately, no one desires to see no value.

“We want to quote and it’s all the time our intention to indicate a value even when it’s widespread and depart it to the buyers to purchase or promote. Each trade has a unique setup and guidelines to fulfil, alignment might be useful.”

Goldie added: “And not using a consolidated tape in Europe, it is vitally tough for buyers to have an aggregated view of secondary market buying and selling volumes in ETPs versus what has been normal apply within the US for a few years.

“That is one thing the business is participating closely on with commerce associations and policymakers to showcase the true tradability of European ETPs. An EU consolidated tape would convey an entire host of advantages that will enhance investor confidence and permit for extra ETP quantity to be traded on trade.”

Associated articles