Brussels looks to set EU markets free

Article previews European Commission proposals, due to be officially unveiled in November 2002, which will revolutionise the functioning of the Brussels Bourse and other financial markets across Europe. The new rules will leave European stock exchanges open to competition from large investment banks. Under a practice known as 'internalisation' banks will also be allowed to bypass the exchanges either by matching buying and selling orders from different customers or by selling clients shares they own.