Regulation of International Capital Markets

This module, Regulation of International Capital Markets, is specially designed for postgraduates studying finance and financial law. It is designed to contribute to your enhanced understanding of the ways in which governments and public authorities intervene in the operation of financial markets. It is not necessary for you to have studied financial regulation previously.

The module examines the public regulation of financial markets – that is, the relationship between central government, independent government agencies or indeed international organisations on the one hand, and financial markets or market participants on the other. The contractual relationship between financial intermediaries and their customers will not be examined as such, although there are some strong links between public regulation and private law duties. This module will focus on the principles of regulation of international financial markets.

Learning outcomes

When you have completed your study of this module, you will be able to:

• outline and discuss the main reasons for government intervention in financial markets
• analyse the inherent weakness of the financial system and explain the role of law in correcting those deficiencies
• explain the reasons for and techniques of banking regulation and supervision
• examine and discuss the importance of capital regulation for the stability of the banking system
• outline and discuss the methods and instruments of securities regulation in a range of issues, including Initial Public Offerings, financial intermediaries, securities trading, fraudulent practices and takeovers
• critically assess the regulatory components of the global financial system
• analyse the legal components of current work towards a stronger global financial system following a recent sequence of devastating crises in Asia, Latin America and elsewhere.

Tuition and assessment

Students are individually assigned an academic tutor for the duration of the module, with whom you can discuss academic queries at regular intervals during the study session.

You are required to complete two Assignments for this module, which will be marked by your tutor. Assignments are each worth 15% of your total mark. You will be expected to submit your first assignment by the Tuesday of Week 6, and the second assignment at the end of the module, on the Tuesday after Week 10. Assignments are submitted and feedback given online. In addition, queries and problems can be answered through the Virtual Learning Environment.

You will also sit a three-hour examination on a specified date in September/October, worth 70% of your total mark. An up-to-date timetable of examinations is published on the website in July each year.

Study resources

• Study guide: The module study guide is carefully structured to provide the main teaching, defining and exploring the main concepts and issues, locating these within current debate and introducing and linking the assigned readings.
• Readings: Throughout the module you will be directed to study a selection of readings, including journal articles, book extracts and case studies that are of particular relevance and interest to the topics covered in the module.
• Virtual learning environment: You will have access to the VLE, which is a web-accessed study centre. Via the VLE, you can communicate with your assigned academic tutor, administrators and other students on the module using discussion forums. The VLE also provides access to the module Study Guide and assignments, as well as a selection of electronic journals available on the University of London Online Library.

Study calendar 2022/23

Study calendars are subject to change.

Module overview

Unit 1 Introduction to Financial Regulation

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 The Concepts of Regulation and Supervision
• 1.3 Instruments of Regulation
• 1.4 Who Regulates: Institutions and Structures
• 1.5 Methods of Regulatory Enforcement
• 1.6 Financial Regulation: An Introduction
• 1.7 Concluding Remarks

Unit 2 Central Banking and Banking Regulation

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Forms and Instruments of Financial Regulation
• 2.3 The Organisational Structure of Financial Regulation
• 2.4 The Nature of Banking Risks
• 2.5 Why Regulate the Banking System
• 2.6 The Role and Functions of the Central Bank
• 2.7 The Failure of Northern Rock – A Case Study
• 2.8 Concluding Remarks

Unit 3 Introduction to International Capital Markets

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Financial Markets and Financial Assets
• 3.3 Primary and Secondary Capital Markets
• 3.4 The Internationalisation of Capital Markets
• 3.5 The Globalisation of Financial Crises
• 3.6 Conclusions

Unit 4 Regulation of Primary Securities Markets in the United States

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Introduction to Primary Securities Markets
• 4.3 Overview of the Regulatory Framework
• 4.4 Mandatory Disclosure and the Efficient Capital Market Hypothesis
• 4.5 Regulation of Primary Securities Offerings in the United States
• 4.6 Conclusions

Unit 5 Financial Integration and Regulation of Primary Securities Markets in the European Union

• 5.1 Introduction to International Financial Integration
• 5.2 EU Policies and Institutional Mechanisms of Financial Integration
• 5.3 The Financial Services Action Plan
• 5.4 The Core EU Measures Regulating the Primary Market
• 5.5 Conclusions

Unit 6 International Regulation of Securities Firms

• 6.1 The Role of Market Intermediaries in Securities Markets
• 6.2 Regulation of Securities Firms – an Introduction
• 6.3 Federal Regulation of Securities Firms in the United States
• 6.4 Regulation of Securities Firms in the United Kingdom
• 6.5 International Aspects of Regulation of Securities Firms in Europe
• 6.6 Conclusions

Unit 7 International Regulation of Secondary Securities Markets

• 7.1 The Structure and Economic Functions of Secondary Securities Markets
• 7.2 The Economic Rationale for Regulating Secondary Securities Markets
• 7.3 Market Regulation in the United States
• 7.4 Market Regulation in the European Union – The Market Abuse and Transparency Directives
• 7.5 Market Regulation in the United Kingdom
• 7.6 Conclusions

Unit 8 Global Capital Markets and Development of International Rules

• 8.1 The Globalisation of Finance
• 8.2 Building International Financial Stability
• 8.3  Developing International Rules and Regulatory Standards for Capital Markets
• 8.4 Financial Regulation in the European Union in the Aftermath of the 2008 Financial Crisis
• 8.5 Fighting International Financial Crime
• 8.6 Conclusions

Module samples

• M443 Module Introduction (PDF)
• M443 Specimen Examination (PDF)
• M443 Unit 1 (PDF)

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules