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Version date: 10 October 2016 - onwards

Question 5 Suitability report: advice not to buy or sell a financial instrument [Last update: 10 October 2016]

Art. 25(6) of MiFID II

Shall a suitability report be provided to the client when the advice given is not to buy or sell a financial instrument?

Answer 5

Yes. Firms providing investment advice are required to always provide the client with a suitability report, irrespective of the specific recommendation given, including the advice not to buy, hold or sell a financial instrument.

In this regard, Recital 87 of the MiFID II Delegated Regulation specifically clarifies that "investment firms should undertake a suitability assessment not only in relation to [when] recommendations to buy a financial instrument are made but for all decisions whether to trade including whether or not to buy, hold or sell an investment".