Central Bank publishes consultation on the protection of retail investors of CFDs
06 March 2017
Press Release
The Central Bank has published a Consultation on the protection of retail investors in relation to the distribution of CFDs. Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are complex, leveraged, derivative instruments which enable investors to speculate on the short-term price movements of an underlying
reference asset.
The Consultation Paper discusses the Central Bank’s concerns in relation to CFDs and outlines proposed measures currently under consideration which are aimed at protecting the interests of retail clients. Options under consideration include
the prohibition of the sale or distribution of CFDs to retail clients in and from Ireland and the implementation of enhanced investor protection measures.
Director of Asset Management Supervision, Michael Hodson said “CFDs are complex products which are widely advertised to the retail mass market in an online setting. It is timely for the Central Bank to take further and decisive action in relation
to CFDs given the evidence that the probability of loss for consumers is very high. This work builds on previous work in this area and proposes stronger protections for consumers.”
Interested parties are invited to make a submission to [email protected] by 29 May 2017. Submissions will be published along with a feedback statement on
www.centralbank.ie following the consultation period.