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Analyst Recommendations and Regulation: Scopes for European Policy Makers to Enhance Investor Protection

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  • Andreas Höfer
  • Andreas Oehler

Abstract

Investors rely on analyst recommendations when making investment decisions. Over the last few years, however, sell-side analysts have caught the attention of the supervisory authorities given their vulnerability to numerous conflicts of interest. In this paper, we empirically examine relevant regulatory measures that have an impact upon analysts’ activities, namely the market abuse directive and markets in financial instruments directive. We find that European regulators have primarily focused on mitigating conflicts of interest. However, to establish an environment of more sophisticated investor protection additional regulatory effort is required. Therefore, in this paper, we provide related empirical evidence and discuss proposals to correct regulatory shortcomings in order to strengthen investor protection in the European Union. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Höfer & Andreas Oehler, 2014. "Analyst Recommendations and Regulation: Scopes for European Policy Makers to Enhance Investor Protection," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 20(4), pages 369-384, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iaecre:v:20:y:2014:i:4:p:369-384:10.1007/s11294-014-9484-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11294-014-9484-x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Prokop, Jörg & Kammann, Benno, 2018. "The effect of the European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive on affiliated analysts’ earnings forecast optimism," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 75-86.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Security Analysis; Financial Regulation; Conflicts of Interest; Investor Protection; G10; G18; G20; G24; G32; G38;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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