The French markets regulator has become one of the first European watchdogs to set out how it intends to implement new rules on research payments, and has said it is open to allowing brokers to continue providing corporate access to clients for free – in contrast to the UK, where the practice has been banned.

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers issued an 88-page consultation on September 12 giving guidance on inducement rules coming into force in 2018 through a revised version of the EU's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. The AMF has asked for feedback on the paper by October 28.