AFME Highlights Capital Markets as Key Driver of UK Investment and Economic Growth

AFME Highlights Capital Markets as Key Driver of UK Investment and Economic Growth

(IN BRIEF) AFME has published A Renewed Agenda for UK Financial Markets, calling on the new UK Government to maintain momentum behind financial services reform and focus on measures that support investment, growth and competitiveness. The report argues that while the UK has made important progress in reforming its financial services framework, the next step is to ensure those reforms produce tangible results. AFME wants to see deeper and more liquid capital markets, stronger investment flows and a regulatory environment that supports both resilience and competitiveness. Key priorities include prudential reform through the Financial Policy Committee’s review of bank capital requirements, the development of a UK equity consolidated tape, wider adoption of digital and DLT-enabled market infrastructure, and the removal of barriers such as high market data costs and unnecessary regulatory burdens.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 22-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Association for Financial Markets in Europe has published A Renewed Agenda for UK Financial Markets, urging the new UK Government to maintain momentum on financial services reform and focus on measures that support investment, growth and competitiveness.

The report says the UK has made significant progress in reforming its financial services framework in recent years. AFME argues that the next priority should be ensuring those reforms deliver practical economic results, deeper and more liquid capital markets and increased investment across the country.

Adam Farkas, Chief Executive Officer of AFME, said the report comes at an important moment for the UK, as the new Government focuses on economic growth.

“As ministers develop a long-term economic strategy, financial services and capital markets must be recognised as central enablers of investment, innovation and competitiveness,” said Farkas.

He said the UK has already established many of the foundations needed to reinforce its role as a leading global financial centre.

According to Farkas, the focus should now be on sustaining progress behind the financial services growth strategy, supporting innovation, accelerating the adoption of distributed ledger technology and ensuring that regulation promotes both resilience and competitiveness.

Farkas added that the UK does not need to reinvent its wholesale market framework. Instead, he said Government and regulators should concentrate on removing remaining frictions and ensuring reforms provide real benefits for businesses, investors and the wider economy.

AFME said international competition for capital, listings and financial activity is intensifying. Against that backdrop, the UK should build on recent progress made through the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy and the latest Mansion House reforms.

The report sets out a targeted and forward-looking agenda focused on improving market efficiency, supporting innovation, unlocking investment and enabling wholesale financial markets to play a larger role in financing companies, infrastructure and economic growth across the UK.

Among the key priorities identified by AFME is the need to deliver meaningful prudential reform through the Financial Policy Committee’s review of bank capital requirements.

The report also calls for the UK equity consolidated tape to strengthen market transparency and liquidity.

AFME further highlights the importance of scaling adoption of digital and DLT-enabled market infrastructure, reflecting the growing role of technology in modern financial markets.

The report also urges policymakers to remove barriers to growth, including high market data costs and unnecessary regulatory burdens.

AFME said it is ready to work with Government, regulators and market participants to help deliver the agenda.

The association said the goal is to ensure the UK remains one of the world’s leading and most competitive financial centres, while enabling capital markets to contribute more effectively to investment, innovation and long-term economic growth.

Notes:

1. The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) is the voice of the leading banks in Europe’s financial markets, providing expertise across a broad range of regulatory and capital markets issues. We represent over 150 leading global and European banks and other significant market players. Our members play a vital role in Europe’s financial ecosystem, underwriting around 90% of European corporate and sovereign debt, and 85% of European listed equity capital issuances. Importantly, AFME members are market makers, providing liquidity,

which is essential for ensuring financial markets can function efficiently. We also represent law firms and other associate members which advise market participants and support AFME’s legal and regulatory initiatives. For more information please visit the AFME website: www.afme.eu

2. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter @AFME_EU

Media Contact:

Rebecca Hansford
Head of Communications and Marketing
Rebecca.Hansford@afme.eu
+44 (0)20 3828 2693

SOURCE: AFME