After being presented to the United Kingdom (UK) parliament on 13 January 2021, the regulation recognizing the equivalence of the Swiss Stock Exchange entered into force on 3 February 2021. The Swiss Federal Department of Finance (FDF) has lifted the restrictions on the UK in return.

At the same time, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA added the UK exchanges to the list of recognized foreign trading venues pursuant to the Federal Council Ordinance of 30 November 2018 (Ordinance). With the completion of this process, trading in Swiss equities on UK exchanges can now resume.

SIX Welcomes Acceptance by the United Kingdom and Recognition of Respective Trading Venues #sixnewshttps://t.co/QsdRATvFsA

— SIX (@sixgroup) February 3, 2021

The Ordinance remains in force in the EU.

From January 2019, the Ordinance applied both to UK exchanges and trading venues in the EU as the UK retained the status of an EU member state during the transition period, which came to an end on 31 December 2020.

Thomas Wellauer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SIX: “SIX welcomes this move. We’ve always supported open and international capital markets and it’s in the interests of national and international investors. The mutual recognition of equivalence will permit a healthy exchange and competition between the major financial centers in Switzerland and the UK.

Some of the largest and most traded companies in Europe are based in Switzerland. These securities are listed and traded on SIX, which is the deepest, most liquid and least expensive market for these shares. SIX offers great liquidity and tight spreads.”

Source: SIX

Battle for Swiss stock trading restarts tomorrow after @FINMA_media confirms list of eligible MTFs: https://t.co/62hBtyVoNs
But don't expect a #Brexit-style overnight liquidity shift. It's more likely the MTFs will build market share over the coming weeks.

— Anish Puaar (@AnishRBLT) February 3, 2021

Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer, TheCityUK, said in a statement: “The barriers put in place between the UK and Switzerland by the EU Commission following an unrelated political dispute in June 2019 created much dismay and concern across the industry. Fragmentation of global capital markets leads to additional friction, reduces choice, and increases costs for customers and clients.”

The UK and Switzerland today restored cross-border access to share trading venues. @TCUKmiles: "When many businesses need capital and investment to recover following the global pandemic, this action will help to boost liquidity and confidence. 1/4 https://t.co/8dJY07nL91 pic.twitter.com/srdpNu4gqI

— TheCityUK (@TheCityUK) February 3, 2021