Deutsche Boerse and Nasdaq are under investigation as the European Union (EU) probes possible antitrust violations in the financial derivatives market, according to Reuters.
On Tuesday, Deutsche Boerse, the operator of Germany’s stock exchange, confirmed that its offices were searched as part of the EU investigation. A company spokesperson said they are cooperating with authorities but provided no further details, explaining, “We do not comment on ongoing investigations.”
Similarly, Nasdaq, the American financial services firm, confirmed that it has been contacted in connection with the probe. Although the company didn’t specify the countries involved, a Stockholm-based spokesperson stated that Nasdaq is fully cooperating with the European Commission. “Nasdaq is committed to fully cooperate with the European Commission and support the relevant authorities with the investigation,” the spokesperson said, according to Reuters.
The European Commission, responsible for enforcing competition laws across the EU, confirmed on Monday that it had carried out unannounced inspections at financial services companies in two EU member states. While the Commission did not name the companies or disclose the number of firms involved, these surprise inspections are often a key part of investigations into suspected antitrust activity. The EU emphasized that such inspections do not indicate guilt but are conducted to gather evidence of potential anticompetitive practices.
Euronext, a major European stock exchange operator with markets in cities like Paris and Amsterdam, clarified in a statement that it was not part of the EU investigation or inspections.
Although there is no fixed deadline for the investigation, companies found guilty of antitrust violations could face formal charges and hefty fines. This investigation underscores the EU’s ongoing commitment to regulating competition in critical financial sectors.
Source: Reuters
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