On February 18, the European Securities and Markets
Authority ("ESMA") published a
press release stating that it has agreed to
extend the prohibition of the marketing, distribution or sale of
binary options to retail clients for a further three-month period
from April 2.
ESMA published a decision notice on the prohibition in June
2018, which has been in effect since July 2, 2018. This is a
further renewal after ESMA announced in a press release in November 2018 that it would
extend the prohibition from January 2 for a further three-month
period.
The measure will be renewed on the same terms as the previous
renewal decision. ESMA is extending the prohibition again as it
considers that a significant investor protection concern related to
the offer of binary options to retail clients continues to
exist.
