By Henrietta Billings - 22nd July 2004
Brussels has confirmed that the offices of European exchange operator Euronext have been inspected by EU officials as part of a probe into anti-competitive practices.
In a statement on Friday, a European Commission spokesman said the investigation involved "simultaneous unannounced inspections at the premises of Euronext and certain financial services companies in Paris, Amsterdam and London".
"The purpose of the inspections is to ascertain whether there is evidence establishing a breach of European competition rules."
Free rebates and incentives connected to the trading of Dutch securities on Euronext are the subject of the probe which was launched on Thursday and has no fixed deadline.
The European Commission stressed that the investigation centered on business practices, not trading operations.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.