Subjects:

Blackstone Legislation Guides, Banking and Finance

Contents:

The Policy Background

Accountability and Objectives of the FSA

Regulated and Prohibited Activities

Financial Promotion

Authorisation and Exemption

Permission to carry on regulated Activities

Performance of Regulated Activities

Official Listing

Control of Business Transfers

Penalties for Market Abuse

Hearings and Appeals

Rules and Guidance

Information Gathering and Investigations

Control Over Authorised Persons

Incoming Firms: Intervention by the FSA

Disciplinary Measures

Compensation

The Ombudsman Scheme

Collective Investment Schemes

Recognised Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses

Lloyd's of London

Provision of Financial Services by Members of the Professions

Mutual Societies

Auditors

Public Record, Disclosure of Information and Cooperation

Insolvency

Injunctions and Restitution

Notices

Criminal Offences and their Prosecution

Miscellaneous, Interpretation and Supplemental

Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

The Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 is the most important piece of legislation in the financial services area for many years. It overhauls and unifies the arrangement for oversight of banking, insurance and other investment services. Under the title of Market Abuse, it introduces radical new sanctions to restrain abuse of financial markets.

It establishes the Financial Services Authority as a powerful, active and near-universal regulator of the United Kingdom's financial services industry. It also creates, for the benefit of consumers, a statutory Financial Ombudsman Service to enable financial disputes to be resolved quickly and informally, and a Financial Services Compensation Scheme to unify arrangements for depositor and policyholder protection and investor compensation.

The Act will have widespread influence in the lives and businesses of all concerned with financial services, whether as part of the marketplace or as users of the services which it provides. This new book provides a clear exposition of the new statutory framework, with an emphasis on practical matters. it describes a complicated and multi-faceted Act in a simple and straightforward way.

The Guide takes the Act as its framework, but includes some general background material and details the more important subordinate material that is still to be finalised. Blackstone's Guide to the Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 is essential reading for anyone with responsibility in the financial services marketplace, and for all those advising financial firms, including accountants, solicitors, barristers, compliance officers, auditors and actuaries.

Equally, financial consumers and those advising them, whether in contentious or non-contentious matters, will find this book of inestimable value in coming to grips with the new regime. The book contains a copy of the Act.