UK regulators are weighing a change to enforcement laws governing insider trading, following a court ruling in Europe that could make it easier for the Financial Services Authority to bring civil cases. Any change would involve the UK regulator rewriting its handbook or rules and guidance to reflect a shift in the burden of proof at the European level from the prosecutor to the accused.

The FSA said: "We are considering the implications of the judgment with HM Treasury and will bring forward amendments to the relevant provisions in due course if this is necessary to bring the UK market abuse regime into line with the judgment."