Sebi ups cooperation with global peers

As Indian markets attain a larger global character, Sebi is strengthening cooperation with its global peers for exchange of information in key cases. A full-fledged ‘International Affairs’ team has been put in place at the capital markets regulatory body, while Sebi is also working on a 'comprehensive study' to understand the surveillance mechanism of regulators in markets such as the US, the UK, and Australia, an official said.

The study would include analysis of foreign regulators' "surveillance infrastructure and techninques to decipher patterns in the trading, formation of associations between entities and gathering of market intelligence including linkage of price volume pattern to market information".

Further, the best practices followed in developed markets relating to surveillance of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, which use latest technology to execute trades in milli-seconds, would also be looked into, the official added.

Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is already a key member of international standard setting bodies and global forums, including the IOSCO (International Organisation of Securities Commissions), a global body of market regulators from across the world.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) at Sebi would act as a central facilitation cell for overseas entities having regulatory issues and concerns relating to Indian securities market.

In appropriate cases, OIA will seek to flag and coordinate such issues with relevant departments within Sebi. Similarly, securities market participants from India may request OIA for regulatory assistance.

In appropriate cases, OIA may coordinate with overseas regulators with a view to flag such issues and concerns.

Sebi has also beefed up its framework for providing technical assistance to foreign regulators.

In the past, Sebi has shared with foreign peers its expertise on various aspects of securities market regulations including in mutual funds, ETFs, depositories, clearing and settlement mechanism, market surveillance and enforcement, information technology, data warehousing and business intelligence, among others.

The OIA is also tasked with keeping Sebi abreast of global developments, so that necessary steps can be taken by it while introducing and implementing regulatory measures.

In pursuit of its regulatory objectives, Sebi also engages with several international organisations, foreign regulators and law enforcement agencies.

Among other global forums, Sebi is one of the three members of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) from India which coordinates at the international level the work of national financial authorities and international standard setting bodies.