FSA flexes its muscles on insider trading
The FSA has today confirmed the arrest of a 64-year-old gentleman in relation to alleged money laundering and the provision of false information in connection with a suspected insider trading investigation. While no further details have been announced this is just the latest in a long line of FSA arrests in relation to market abuse and insider trading. Indeed six people have been sentenced to jail terms over the last two years due to FSA investigations.
It is ironic that the FSA stands on the verge of being dismantled and its regulatory power spreads across the UK regulatory sector despite the fact the success rate in areas such as insider trading and market abuse has never been higher. There had been hopes that the coalition government would at least delay plans to dismantle the FSA but it looks as though the Bank of England will become the king pin of the UK regulatory environment and Mervyn King himself will see a massive increase in his own influence.
There have been great strides made in the area of monitoring individual trades which may have been the subject of takeover rumours, profit warnings or other potential news which could in theory impact the share price.
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