The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has published its second risk monitoring report of 2024, setting out what it described as “the key risk drivers currently facing EU financial markets.”
ESMA said external events continue to have a strong impact on the evolution of financial markets and that it also sees “high or very high overall risks in the markets within its remit.”
The regulator said less volatile markets earlier in 2024 and a return of search-for-yield behaviour in riskier market segments suggested a general market anticipation of a soft landing.
“However, more recent events show how markets remain very sensitive, especially to interest rate developments, deteriorating credit risk and to political and electoral news,” said ESMA.
“There remains a high risk of corrections in a context of fragile market liquidity, in equity and in other markets.”
ESMA chair Verena Ross said:“Markets are getting more nervous about the economic outlook and political events, as the dip in equity valuations in early August and market volatility around recent European and French elections shows.
“Close monitoring of the financial markets in our remit and strong coordination of supervisory efforts with national authorities remains our priority.
“We continue to see risks in the fund area linked to liquidity mis-matches, particularly in the real estate sector, and deteriorating quality of assets linked to interest rate, credit risk and valuation issues.”
Beyond the risk drivers, ESMA’s report provides an update on structural developments and the status of key sectors of financial markets, during the first half of 2024.
On market-based finance, the report said: “Capital availability for European corporates through capital markets has been broadly stable in 2024 so far. Although the market environment remains very challenging for equity issuance, there were signs of improvement in IPO activity.
“Corporate bond issuance was high in 1Q24 but fell in the second quarter of the year. The corporate bond outlook continues to show a significant upcoming maturity wall from 2024 until 2028. In this context, corporate debt sustainability remains a considerable risk, especially in lower quality segments.”
On sustainable finance, the report said: “In the last few years, a strong interest in and uptake of sustainable investments has been sending positive signals about investors’ willingness to finance the green transition. However, recent ESG-related market developments have sparked concerns on the ability to mobilise private capital, with green bond issuance slowing and sustainable funds facing outflows for the first time in 2H23.
“Looking ahead, firms’ ability to announce credible transition plans could steer broader willingness to invest in transitioning firms, supported by transition finance instruments.”
On financial innovation, the report said: “Crypto-assets markets continued to surge in the first half of 2024, fuelled by the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ether ETPs in the US, to reach a total global market valuation of EUR 2.2tn by end-June (+40% since end-2023).
“Liquidity also recovered to pre-FTX levels. However, the market developments in early August led to volatility and some substantial falls in crypto-asset valuations. High concentration also continues both for crypto-assets and crypto exchanges.”
On securities markets, the report said: “Asset prices in early 2024 trended upwards with little volatility suggesting future rate cuts were being anticipated. Episodes of market volatility took place linked to elections in the EU in June and July, and a short-lived dip in global equity valuations in early August was associated with weaker-than-expected US macroeconomic indicators.
“In fixed income markets, corporate bond spreads have continued to fall, especially for high-yield corporates while the credit quality of high-yield non-financials has continued to decline, particularly real estate. This may indicate search-for-yield behaviour with a possible underestimation of risks.”