Resource Centre

Europe is comprised of multiple countries with individual national government bond markets, different debt agencies or branches of finance ministries, different criteria and definitions for the institutions that “make markets” and different procedures for issuing bonds. Importantly for this discussion about bonds, each country also has different tax code requirements. As bonds can have tax consequences and benefits, it is important for any European investor to consult a tax advisor, a financial advisor or the primary financial regulator and/or tax authority in each country to know the rules.

Below find helpful educational resources on investing topics, including bonds, as well as links to the primary financial regulator and tax authority in each European country.

AFME is providing the links and resources for informational purposes only and do not endorse any products, information, or data displayed at these sites. Consult your financial and tax advisor for advice.

Helpful European Financial and Investor Literacy Links

• European Central Bank
• European Commission—Economic and Financial Affairs
• European Commission--The European Database for Financial Education
• Committee of European Securities Regulators Investor Corner
• Xtrakter's Retail Investor Bond Information Service
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• International Gateway for Financial Education (OECD)
• Institute for Public Financial Education (IEFP) (Not for profit association to promote and develop financial literacy in France)
• The Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) (An independent body, established by the U.K. Financial Services Authority, the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) is responsible for helping consumers in the U.K. understand financial matters and manage their finances better.)

European Financial and Investor Literacy Media and Print Resources

• Financial Times newspaper and FT.com
• Wall Street Journal Europe
• Bloomberg
• For Investing in bonds in the UK:
  • First Steps in Bonds, by Peter Temple (Prentice Hall)
  • Magic Numbers For Bonds And Derivatives: How to Calculate 25 Key Ratios for.Bonds and Derivatives, by Peter Temple

European Private Sector Resources for Individual Investors

• TLX S.p.A. organizes and manages markets for the trading of financial instruments aimed at the investment needs of non-professional investors, including setting the rules governing market function, providing information on various types of bonds and company information and setting requirements for admission of financial instruments.
• International Gateway for Financial Education—Private Sector Programs section