The Swedish financial markets are set to function neither better nor worse during the coming six months, according to a majority of respondents in a Riksbank survey.
Results of the Riksbank's twice-yearly Risk Survey released on Tuesday showed that respondents expect the sovereign debt problems in the euro area to remain for an extended period of time. Hence, they expect their risk propensity to remain unchanged in the coming six months.
Swedish markets are functioning better now than they did in the autumn, survey respondents, including fixed income and foreign exchange participants, said.
It was primarily the extensive lending by the European Central Bank that contributed to the increased liquidity and greater risk propensity on the European markets, which has also spread to the Swedish markets, they noted.
Further, the fiscal reforms presented by several highly-indebted countries also boosted confidence, the survey said. Liquidity has improved in most instruments on the Swedish fixed income and foreign exchange markets, it added.
Asked about their view on new regulations such as Basel III for banking, Solvency 2 for the insurance industry and the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, many respondents said they were uncertain over the impact that future regulations will have on the financial system and the functioning of the markets.
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