The rise of alternative trading systems has created a dual system, with heavily regulated exchanges on the one hand, and almost unregulated alternative trading systems on the other hand. The European Union has responded to this development by enacting Directive 2004/39/EC on markets in financial...

The Directive on Markets in Financial Instruments (MiFID 2004), adopted in 2004, brought about substantial changes in the market. Competition between trading venues has increased and a substantial portion of trade in financial instruments has moved from regulated markets to other trading venues....