Financial regulation and supervision, commonly referred to as financial regulation, is the process of setting rules and guidelines applicable to financial institutions, markets and transactions. The primary goal of these regulations is to protect the rights and interests of investors, promote market efficiency, prevent market manipulation and provide confidence and stability to the financial sector.
At the global level, financial regulators seek to ensure systemic stability and combat systemic risk, by setting international standards that markets and financial intermediaries have to follow. At the national and international level, financial regulation seeks to ensure the financial sector operates within the law, conformity is observed and orderly markets are maintained.
The scope of financial regulation can be broad. It includes the regulation of banks, trading exchanges and market conduct. It also covers the regulation of securities markets, derivatives and other financial instruments, including those that trade over-the-counter on electronic networks. It also includes the regulation of consumer protection and consumer credit, and the regulation of offshore financial services.
Financial regulators set rules and standards that are necessary for the functioning of the financial markets. These may include standards related to capital requirements, liquidity, business conduct and other areas. Regulators may issue advisory opinions, guidelines or warnings to address certain practices, while they may also impose sanctions or other forms of enforcement.
Regulators also play a key role in promoting market efficiency, competition and consumer protection. Regulators may require financial firms to publish information about the costs and benefits of different financial products, enabling consumers to make informed decisions when choosing a financial product. Regulators may also require firms to have procedures in place to ensure fairness in their market conduct.
Finally, regulators also have an important role in protecting the financial system from systemic risk. This can include setting capital requirements for banks, and other measures to ensure stability.
In conclusion, financial regulation and supervision is an important component of the global financial system. Regulators seek to ensure that markets, financial institutions and financial transactions are conducted in a manner consistent with the interests of investors and consumers, while also ensuring the stability of the financial system.