NZX has published its second annual NZX Regulatory Agenda, highlighting the regulatory outcomes it is pursuing and identifying five strategic areas of focus for 2017.

The five areas of focus in 2017 are:

Market infrastructure: NZX's market rules and guidance.

Orderly markets: Comprehensive and effective frontline monitoring and enforcement of trading misconduct, and understanding of permitted trading conduct by market participants.

Market engagement: Constructive engagement with issuers and participants, to support compliance frameworks, organisational culture and market conduct.

Risk-based approach: Targeted resourcing to issuers, participants and financial products which present risks to the operation of fair, orderly and transparent markets.

Market development: Application and enforcement of clear, appropriate standards of conduct, and a policy framework that is conducive to a diverse range of listed products, issuers and broking service providers.

In a foreword, the NZX Head of Market Supervision, Joost van Amelsfort, says NZX plays a critical role in supporting and driving the development of New Zealand’s listed capital markets, which it does with the cooperation of issuers, market participants and other market advocates.

“NZX’s regulatory infrastructure supports the operation of fair, orderly and transparent markets, which in turn drives balanced, informed and confident investor participation," he says.

"NZX Regulation will continue its programme of targeted engagement in 2017, committing significant resource to ensure the integrity of our markets is maintained."