Press releases 2021 - CONSOB AND ITS ACTIVITIES
Press releases 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 7 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 7 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Vigo and Co LLC (website www.level5x.com and related page https://webtrader.level5x.com);
- Lithe Group Ltd (website https://platinex.cc);
- FX Publications INC, Acetopfinancial Ltd, Vita Impex Ltd (website https://acetopfin.com and related page https://accounts.acetopfin.com);
- S.E trend Ltd (website https://sealtd.co and related page https://client.sealtd.co);
- Axis Solutions Ltd (website www.emiratesfx24.com and related page https://my.emiratesfx24.com);
- "WBI Invest" (website https://wbiinvest.com and related page https://client.wbiinvest.com);
- "Globalinvestous" (website https://global-investous.eu and related page https://client.global-investous.eu).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 600.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 24 December 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 28 abusive pages/Internet websites reported by the Finance Police - A joint task force is underway
Consob has ordered the blackout of 28 new pages/websites that abusively offer financial services. The intervention is the result of a report received by Consob from the Finance Police.
Consob and the Finance Police have agreed to continue and intensify the collaboration related to this subject. To this purpose it was decided the institution of a dedicated joint working group.
As part of a wide-ranging investigation, several web domains were identified through which trading services on financial instruments, mostly related to crypto-currencies, were illegally offered.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), relating to the blackout of websites of abusive financial intermediaries.
Below are the 28 pages/websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Gate Technology Corp (internet domains www.gate.io, www.gateio.rocks, www.gateio.ws);
- "EliteCrypto Trade" (internet domain www.elitecryptotrade.com);
- Maxbit LLC (internet domains www.quotex.io, www.quotex.com);
- PrimeXBT Trading Services LLC (internet domain www.primexbt.com and related page https://my.pimexbt.com);
- Po Trade Ltd (internet domain www.po.trade);
- AMarkets Ltd (internet domain www.amarkets.com and related page https://my.amarkets.org);
- "Finmax" (internet domain www.finmaxbo.com);
- SimpleFX Ltd (internet domain https://simplefx.com and related page https://app.simplefx.com);
- Vantage Global Limited (internet domain www.monetamarkets.com);
- "Ultimate-mining.co" (internet domain www.ultimate-mining.co);
- "Bitcoin ERA" and "Absystem" (internet domains https://bitcoinera.app and https://absystem.world);
- "Bitcoin ERA", "CryptoRobot", "Sagatrade" (internet domains www.bitcoinera.com, www.cryptorobot.com, www.sagatrade.io);
- "Bitcoin-evolutionpro", Twingle Consulting LTD (internet domains www.bitcoin-evolutionpro.com and https://cointrade.cc);
- "Bitcoin UP" "FXPLANB" (internet domains www.bitcoin-up.live and https://fxplanb.com);
- Binarium Limited (internet domains www.binarium.com, https://binarium.global and https://binarium.trading).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 593.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 23rd December 2021
The Italian Stock Exchange puts the pandemic effect behind it - Market indicators show a strong recovery in the first half of 2021 - The latest Consob Statistical Bulletin has been published (Press release of 22 December 2021)
The ratio between market capitalization and GDP is growing, returning to the pre-pandemic level. Equity investments increase, while the volume of investments in government bonds decreases. The number of listed companies rises; the profitability of financial and non-financial companies is clearly improving.
These are some of the elements characterizing the photograph of the Italian Stock Exchange, as shown in the latest Consob Statistical Bulletin for the first half of 2021.
The picture emerging from the data in the Bulletin, published today on the Consob website, is a securities market in strong recovery, which cancels the recessive effect of the COVID pandemic recorded in 2020, improving and exceeding the values of 2019.
Almost all indicators show a positive trend. Due to the sharp rise in share prices, the overall capitalization of Italian companies listed on the Stock Exchange, as at last 30 June, jumped forward by 19.9% on an annual basis. In relation to Gross Domestic Product, the market capitalization therefore rises to 34.8% from 32% at the end of June 2020.
The number of listed companies grew (from 382 to 389), driven by new admissions to listing on AIM, the trading platform dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (now renamed Euronext Growth Milan).
Investments in equities exceed now the pre-pandemic level, preferably targeting foreign stocks. At the same time, investments in government bonds fall below the level of 2019. The profits of non-financial companies listed on the main market (MTA) and on the AIM recorded a strong increase on an annual basis at 30 June, rising respectively to 11,1 billion euro (from 1.8 billion) and 75.9 million (from a loss of 30.3 million). Profits from banks (7.5 billion Euros from the previous 100 million) and insurance companies (2.5 billion from 1.5) also improved markedly.
On the other hand, a decrease of the phenomenon of short selling (-20.1% on an annual basis for net short positions as at 30 June 2021) has been recorded.
Finally, the securities portfolio held with Italian intermediaries (+4.69%) and bank deposits of households and businesses (+2.9%) both have increased. Gross inflows of financial instruments by investment funds (UCITS) were also positive (+17.5%, to 245.8 billion), while the inflows of insurance products with a prevalent financial content by Italian intermediaries have decreased (-2.6%, to 18.7 billion).
The Commissioner Carmine Di Noia from February 2022 will head the OECD Financial Affairs Department - He leaves the post at Consob (Press release of 22 December 2021)
As of next 16 February, the Consob Commissioner Carmine Di Noia will take on the role of Director of the Directorate for Financial and Enterprises Affairs (https://www.oecd.org/daf/) at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - OECD, based in Paris.
Di Noia therefore submitted his resignation from his position in Consob, with effect from 7 February 2022. His mandate would have expired at the beginning of 2023.
The Commissioner expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Board, to the executives and to the staff of Consob for their collaboration in recent years.
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 7 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 7 new websites that offer financial services/financial products illegally: 6 illegal financial intermediation websites and 1 website through which an offer of financial products is carried out in the absence of a prospectus.The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), relating to the blackout of the sites of abusive financial intermediaries, as well as of the power introduced by the Law no. 8 of 28 February 2020 (Article no. 4, paragraph 3-bis), with reference to the blackout of the site through which the abusive offer is carried out.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- "24tradex" (websites www.24tradex.com and www.24tradex.co and related page https://client.fx-trade.tech);
- Trade Action Ltd (website https://tradesactions.com and related page https://accounts.tradesactions.com);
- Renaissance Invest LTD (website www.renaissanceinvestltd.net);
- "ProfitMarketsCFD" (website www.profitmarketscfd.com and related page https://webtrader.profitmarketscfd.com);
- Notesco Limited (website www.fxgiants.com and related page https://hub.fxgiants.com).
- "GDenlinea" (website https://gdenlinea.net).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 565.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 10 December 2021
Securities and Financial Ombudsman (Acf) - President Barbuzzi confirmed in office for five years (Press release of 9 December 2021)
The Commission has decided to renew for a second term the appointment of Gianpaolo Barbuzzi as President of the Securities and Financial Ombudsman (Acf), the out-of-court resolution body for disputes between intermediaries and savers, established at Consob.
The new assignment, which has a duration of five years and cannot be further renewed, is effective from next Monday, 13 December.
The composition and the procedure for the appointment of the permanent and alternate members of the Board are published on the website https://www.acf.consob.it/chi-siamo/il-collegio.
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 5 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 5 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- EGL Sverige AB (website https://eglsverigeab.com and related page https://my.eglsverigeab.com);
- Big Horizons Limited e NewFx Ltd (website www.newfx.co);
- Dzikanta Limited (website https://euromts.io);
- Seabreeze Partners Ltd (website https://maxiplus.trade and related page https://maxiplus.cc);
- "ConiusFx" (website https://coniusfx.com).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 558.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 2 December 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 5 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 5 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Vibeinv Invest Limited (website www.vibeinv24.com);
- Prim Global Reach Ltd – Primeatrade Limited – FX Publications Inc. (website https://primea-trade24.com and related page https://client.primea-trade24.com);
- Fundiza LTD (website www.fundiza.org);
- Swissqb247 (website www.swissqb247.net and pages https://client.swissqb247.net and https://webtrader.swissqb247.net);
- Magna Emporium Group Ltd (website https://fxmagna.com and related page https://client.fxmagna.com).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 553.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 26 November 2021
First ABF/ACF forum in implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between Consob and the Bank of Italy
The first meeting of the forum between the President and other members of the Securities and Financial Ombudsman (ACF) and the Presidents who are members of the Coordination Board of the Banking and Financial Ombudsman (ABF) was held today.
Through the ACF/ABF forum, the Memorandum of Understanding (signed on 19 March 2020) on alternative dispute resolution is implemented, to prevent the onset of conflicts of interpretation or uncertainties in the delimitation of mutual competences, while respecting decision-making autonomy of the respective bodies.
The meeting of today was dedicated to issues concerning the dispute about securities deposits under administration.
19 November 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 6 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 6 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Miva Solutions LLC/"DeliTraders" (website https://delitraders.com and page https://client.delitraders.com);
- Widdershins Group Ltd/"Asset Group" (websites https://assetgroup.io and https://assetgroup.cc and page https://webtrader.assetgroup.xyz);
- "EuropeMarkets" and "EURTRADERS" (website https://europemarkets.net);
- STRAT Ltd (website www.finexo.io and page https://client.finexo.io);
- TechWare Limited (website https://evotrade.com)
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 548.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 12 November 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 5 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 5 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Tradernet Ltd (website https://web.utradefx.uno and related page https://utradefx.uno);
- "FMarketX" (website https://fmarketx.com and related pages https://client.fmarketx.com and https://webtrader.fmarketx.com);
- "Primus Trader" (website https://primustrader.com and related pages https://client.primustrader.com and https://webtrader.primustrader.com);
- "RoyalFX24" (website www.royalfx24.com and related page https://royal24fx.com);
- Allglobalfin Limited (website www.allglobalfin.com and related page https://webtrader.allglobalfin.com).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 542.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 28 October 2021
Framework agreement between Consob and Ivass on cooperation and coordination in the exercise of their respective functions (Joint press release of 22 October 2021)
The National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange (Consob) and the Institute for the Supervision of Insurance (Ivass) have signed a framework agreement for collaboration and coordination in their respective control activities.
The agreement strengthens, also as a consequence of the evolution of European legislation, the already existing successful cooperation to increase the overall degree of effectiveness and efficiency of the two Authorities in guaranteeing investor protection and adequate protection of policyholders as well as stability of the financial and insurance system.
The agreement provides:
- the commitment of each Authority to provide the other with the widest and most effective collaboration and to contain the burdens on the supervised entities;
- a unitary framework of principles for subsequent memoranda of understanding on matters of common interest that will also be stipulated for the implementation of national provisions for implementing European legislation;
- the establishment, as a privileged venue for collaboration and coordination, of contact committees (strategic and technical);
- general rules on the confidentiality regime of the information exchanged and on relations with other Authorities/institutions/bodies.
The document can be consulted on the websites www.consob.it and www.ivass.it.
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 5 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 5 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Axis Solutions Ltd (website https://swiss24.io and related page https://my.swiss24.io);
- "Brocprime" (website www.brocprime.net and related page https://client.brocprime.net);
- Wabbit Group Ltd (website https://tradingnetwork.co);
- Seabreeze Partners LTD (website https://igfb.one)
- Llajes Services Sp.Zo.o (website https://globalinvestous.eu).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 537.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 21 October 2021
Press Release in PDF
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 10 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 10 new websites that abusively offer financial services.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), on the basis of which Consob can order Internet connectivity service providers to inhibit access from Italy to the websites through which financial services are offered without due authorization.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Vibeinv Invest Limited (website www.vibeinvv.com);
- AdmiralFX Cyprus Ltd (website www.admiralfx.net);
- AdmiralECN Cyprus Ltd (website www.admiralecn.net);
- Billion Traders Services OU (website https://mytradingportal.com and related page https://my.mytradingportal.com);
- Cam Trade Ltd (website https://camtrade.io and related page https://accounts.camtrade.io);
- Donnybrook Consulting Ltd (websites https://absystem.pro and https://onyxprofit.pro);
- "Globecfds" (website www.globalcfds.com and related page https://client.globecfds.com);
- Chambers Investment Trading Pty Ltd (website https://investchambers.com and related page https://trade.investchambers.com);
- Vigo and Co LLC (website www.onirofx.com).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 532.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 14 October 2021
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 6 abusive websites
Consob has ordered the blackout of 6 new websites that offer financial services/financial products illegally: 5 illegal financial intermediation websites and 1 website through which an offer of financial products is carried out in the absence of a prospectus.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), relating to the blackout of the sites of abusive financial intermediaries, as well as of the power introduced by the Law no. 8 of 28 February 2020 (Article no. 4, paragraph 3-bis), with reference to the blackout of the site through which the abusive offer is carried out.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- "FinoMarkets" (website www.finomarkets.com);
- Sealtd Ltd (website www.sealtd.io and related pages https://trading.sealtd.io and https://secure.sealtd.io);
- EurofxFinance Limited (website www.eurofxfinance.com and related page https://client.eurofxfinance.com);
- Seabreeze Partners Ltd (website www.profitassist.co);
- "Xglobalfin" (website www.xglobalfin.com);
- Aga Trading Platform LTD (website https://agatrading.club/ita)
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 522.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.
Rome, 7 October 2021
Wiw, the World Investor's Week, starts in the name of "glocal"- Monday 4 October, on the first day, an international conference on sustainable finance and a theatrical show in Casarano (Salento) on how to defend against scams (Press release of 2 October 2021)
Global and at the same time local: Wiw (World Investor Week) opens under the banner of glocal, the World Investor Week, which begins the day after tomorrow, Monday 4 October, with an international conference on sustainable finance and a theatrical performance by financial education in the small town of Casarano in Salento.
The first appointment in a long series of training events that lasted throughout the week is the Enviromental, social and governance objectives for well-informed and protected investors "conference, a global webinar organized by Consob in collaboration with Iosco (poster), the world organization of regulatory and supervisory authorities on financial markets, to which around 130 countries adhere.
Some of the leading experts in the field discuss sustainable finance and investor protection. Erik Theeden, director general of the Fsa, the Swedish supervisory authority and president of the Iosco task force on sustainable finance, opens the meeting. To sum up this comparison, Professor Chiara Mosca, Consob Commissioner.
On the same day, Consob staged the theatrical show "Watch for Scams!". The screenplay is taken from the autobiography of Charles Ponzi, the Italian swindler who emigrated to the United States who at the beginning of the twentieth century lured thousands of American savers into his trap in a fraud that became famous as the "Ponzi scheme". A century later that same pattern still recurs today in the scams that circulate through the most disparate channels such as the web, telephone, door to door. The event, in person and on a digital platform, is designed as a training tool that combines education and entertainment (edutainment).
In the following days, the Wiw continues throughout Italy with a wide range of training opportunities (program) in the field of financial education aimed at reaching the undifferentiated public in its various components: young people, students, adults, seniors, families, businesses.
Wiw is an initiative of Iosco, managed in Italy by Consob. Investor's Week, now in its fifth edition this year, is part of the fourth Financial Education Month, organized in October by the National Committee for Financial Education.
The fourth edition #OttobreEdufin2021 starts today - Hundreds of virtual opportunities, but also again in presence to talk about finance, insurance and social security throughout Italy (Press release of 1 October 2021)
The fourth edition of the Financial Education Month (#OttobreEdufin2021) starts today. The initiative is promoted by the Committee for the planning and coordination of financial education activities (Edufin Committee) of which CONSOB is a member, too. From the 1st to the 31st of October it will bring throughout Italy many appointments, finally in presence once again, to put the issues of financial education, insurance and social security in the center of the attention of Italians.
The 2021 edition invites us to look forward, beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, to precisely learn from the crisis connected with the spread of the virus. It also emphasizes the importance of taking the time to get basic skills in the financial, insurance and social security fields.
The official slogan of Financial Education Month is, in fact, "Take care of your future! - The ABC of finance – Knowledge bears its fruit", the same as the national communication campaign carried out by the Edufin Committee, in collaboration with the Department for Information and Publishing of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and with the contribution of resources of the Ministry for Economic Development, deriving from Antitrust sanctions. The campaign will start on 4 October on local TV, radio, internet, social media and will also be visible on the free spaces of RAI from 5 October.
As every year, the Month opens with the World Investor Week (Wiw). The Insurance Education Day, on the 11th of October, and the Social Security Education Week, from the 18 th to the 24 th October, are back too.
The calendar of the 2021 Financial Education Month, which is continuously updated, can be consulted on the portal of the QuelloCheConta Committee and on the Facebook profile of the @ITAedufin Committee.
The program includes seminars, lessons, games, workshops and free shows with the aim of offering opportunities for information, discussing and understanding how to manage and plan personal and family financial resources, deepening the topics of savings, investments, insurance and pensions.
To inaugurate #OctoberEdufin2021, an appointment in the theater promoted by the Bank of Italy can be followed in streaming today, from 10 a.m. to 12 on the websites: Quellocheconta.gov.it and L'Economia per tutti and on the institutional channels of the Bank of Italy .
To participate in the initiatives, which will take place in presence and via the web, please scroll through the calendar, choose the event of your interest, register and participate.
The time window for the presentation of projects linked to the regulatory sandbox opens (Joint press release Bank of Italy, Consob and IVASS of 30 September 2021)
Following the entry into force of the decree of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of 30 April 2021, no 100, which governs the procedures for carrying out in Italy the experimentation of techno-finance activities (FinTech), the Bank of Italy, Consob and IVASS have established that the first time window for the submission of applications for admission to the regulatory sandbox will be open from 15 November 2021 to 15 January 2022.
In the first window there are not limitations in terms of maximum number and thematic area of eligible projects.
The sandbox will allow experimentation of innovative solutions, thanks to the benefits of a simplified transitional regime and in constant dialogue with sectorial Authorities.
For additional information please refer to the section dedicated to the sandbox on the websites of Bank of Italy, Consob and IVASS.
Informal discussions with the Authorities are still in progress, according to the procedures indicated in the respective websites.
World Investor Week (Wiw) is back - The fifth edition of the World Investor Week kicks off in 100 countries - From Monday 4 October financial education spreads throughout Italy to promote basic literacy (Press release of 29 September 2021)
The promotion of basic financial literacy to reduce savers' vulnerability to the risks of scams and the dissemination the minimum knowledge necessary to seize the opportunities of the markets.
With this objective the World Investor Week (Wiw), at its fifth edition, is back this year.
The initiative, managed in Italy by Consob, is part of a project launched in 2017 by Iosco, the world organization of regulatory and supervisory Authorities on financial markets, with the contribution of about 100 countries out of 130 Iosco members.
Starting from Monday 4 October, for a whole week, financial education events will be organized throughout Italy – from large cities to small and very small centers – with the aim of reaching the general public: young people, students, adults, seniors, families, businesses. Many training tools, both traditional and innovative, will be used: theatre performances, quizzes, fairy tales, conferences, seminars.
From global to local: among the events scheduled on the first day the Iosco International Conference on Sustainable Finance but also, in Casarano (Lecce), the theatre performance bringing to the stage the story of Charles Ponzi, the scammer who, at the beginning of the twentieth century, managed to ensnare thousands of savers in the United States thank to the adoption of a scheme of scamming which is still widely adopted today in various forms, from the web to door to door.
The 2021 edition will be focused on sustainable finance and prevention from scamming. Among the other topics covered you may find cryptocurrencies and decision-making processes which are at the basis of a conscious investment.
The project relies on the collaboration among various private and public subjects: the Association of Professors of Economics of Intermediaries and Financial Markets; the Polytechnic University of Milan; the Regional School Office of the Lombardy region; the Foundation for Financial Education and Savings; the Global Thinking Foundation; the Savings Museum of Turin; the National Association of Financial Advisors; the approximately 40 Universities affiliated with Consob
Since 2018 Wiw is an integral part of the Month of Financial Education, organized in October by the National Committee for Financial Education, to which Consob participates as a member.
Abusive financial services: Consob blacks out 6 abusive websites (Press release of 29 September 2021)
Consob has ordered the blackout of 6 new websites that offer financial services/financial products illegally: 5 illegal financial intermediation websites and 1 website through which an offer of financial products is carried out in the absence of a prospectus.
The Authority availed itself of the powers deriving from the "Growth Decree" (Law no. 58 of 28 June 2019, Article no. 36, paragraph 2-terdecies), relating to the blackout of the sites of abusive financial intermediaries, as well as of the power introduced by the Law no. 8 of 28 February 2020 (Article no. 4, paragraph 3-bis), with reference to the blackout of the site through which the abusive offer is carried out.
Below are the websites Consob has ordered to be blacked out:
- Evolution Markets LTD (website https://evom-ltd.com and related page https://accounts.evom-ltd.com);
- RT Global (website www.app-trader.biz and related page https://trading.app-trader.biz);
- "Bitawave Global Limited" e Bita System Ltd (website https://bitawave.com);
- "InvestiFx" (website https://investifx.com);
- "VestleFx" (website https://vestlefx.com and related page https://client.vestlefx.com).
- "Amicus Investment Ltd" (website https://amicusinvest.net).
The number of websites blacked out since July 2019, when Consob got the power to order that the websites of fraudulent financial intermediaries be blacked out, has thus risen to 516.
The measures adopted by Consob can be consulted on the website www.consob.it.
The black-out of these websites by Internet service providers operating on Italian territory is ongoing. For technical reasons, it can take several days for the black-out to come into effect.
Consob draws investors' attention to the importance of adopting the greatest diligence in order to make informed investment choices, adopting common sense behaviors, essential to safeguard their savings: these include, for websites that offer financial services, checking in advance that the operator with whom they are investing is authorized, and, for offers of financial products, that a prospectus has been published.
To this end, Consob would remind you that on the website www.consob.it there is a section on the homepage, "Watch for Scams!", providing useful information to warn investors against financially abusive initiatives.