FSA sets August date for sale of securitised derivatives to retail sector

The UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) today published details of the regulatory regime for securitised derivatives that will enable the products to be available in the UK to retail investors. The proposed listing and conduct of business rules for these derivatives will become effective on 1 August.

Securitised derivatives, which include covered warrants and structured product certificates, are typically freely traded and listed on stock exchanges. They enable investors to gain exposure to a wide range of underlying products such as shares, indexes, commodities and interest rates without investing directly in the underlying product.

Firms selling or recommending securitised derivatives to private customers will need to provide a risk warning that will highlight the risks associated with