歐盟無視美國批評關於對沖基金的限制

歐盟拒絕美國批評關於對沖基金的限制
EU rejects US criticism over hedge fund curbs
Friday, 12 March 2010 12:07
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EU rejects US criticism over hedge fund curbs

(AFP) – 18 hours ago

BRUSSELS — European officials on Thursday defended planned new EU legislation regulating high-end financial services from "protectionist" charges, amid anger from US Treasury chief Timothy Geithner.
布魯塞爾 - 歐盟官員週四為計劃的新歐盟法例規管的高端金融服務辯護，避免負上“保護主義”的罪名，正直從美國財政部長蓋特納來的憤怒。
Michel Barnier, European Commission financial services overlord received a letter from Geithner "regarding plans to regulate speculative funds and alternative funds," commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj told journalists.
歐洲委員會金融服務巨頭米歇爾巴尼耶，收到一封來自蓋特納的信，“關於計劃管制投機資金和其它基金，”委員會發言人Altafaj對記者說。
A report in the Financial Times said Geithner's letter warned against planned curbs on hedge and private equity funds that are held outside the EU, even if managers operate on its territory.
一份金融時報的報告說，蓋特納的信警告，反對在歐盟以外持有的對沖基金和私人股本基金的計劃限制，即使在其領土上運作的經理人員。
Altafaj said the legislation that will go before EU finance ministers for their approval on Tuesday consists of regulation that would "reinforce transparency and the responsibilities of key actors in these markets.
Altafaj表示立法將會於週二，在歐盟財長面前進行以得他們的批准，包括規管將“加強透明度和在這些市場的重要行動者的責任。
"What we are doing, we are doing because there are clear G20 guidelines," he underlined, referring to the Group of 20 of leading world economies, which has emerged as a key decision-making body in recent months.
“我們在做的，我們在做，因為 有明確的20國集團指引，”他強調，指向領導世界經濟的20國集團，它在最近幾個月已成為一個關鍵的決策機構。
In the letter, Geithner said the draft European Union directive would impose tighter restrictions on investment funds, saying proposed new rules might damage US hedge funds, private equity groups and banks by curbing their ability to do business with Europe, the paper said.

However, a European source insisted that the plans are "not a question of protectionism" and that they do not "discriminate on the grounds of product nationality."

Barnier will travel to the US in the "coming weeks" to underline that message, according to the commission spokesman.

The sticking-point concerns access to the EU single market for fund managers based in Europe but whose money is held outside the EU, say in the Cayman Islands or other tax havens.

Opponents say it will hasten the flight of top funds from London, where between 70 percent and 80 percent of Europe's high-end financial services sector are found, to Switzerland or elsewhere outside the EU.

EU finance ministers are expected to agree on a "general approach" following heated talks between ambassadors on Thursday, after which the proposed law changes go to the European parliament and then back to the 27 EU member states to be signed off for national implementation.

While one diplomatic source said there are "several questions up in the air... particularly with Britain," another said London recognises it will have no option but to bow out while voicing its disapproval.

"That's the way the system works," said the second diplomat, with the qualified majority voting arithmetic heavily stacked against Downing Street.

France, Germany and Spain have decided which way they want to go with the legislation, and Britain will have no alternative but to try and water it down in parliament or delay meeting European obligations.

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四個歐盟國呼龥對CDS市場聆訊
Four EU states call for inquiry into CDS market
http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2991%3Afour-eu-states-call-for-inquiry-into-cds-market&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64&lang=en