On 31 July 2019, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU securities markets’ regulator, announced that it will not renew the temporary restriction on the marketing, distribution or sale of contracts for differences to retail clients in the European Union.

As most national competent authorities have taken permanent national product intervention measures relating to contracts for differences that are at least as strict as ESMA’s measures, ESMA will not renew its temporary restriction. 

ESMA will continue to monitor activities in relation to these and other related speculative products to determine whether any other EU-wide measures may be needed.

ESMA’s news release can be found here.