Market making reforms to the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange approved earlier this month take effect today.

In a notice to brokerage firms, Market Regulation Services Inc. says that the Ontario Securities Commission approved amendments to the rules of the TSX implementing market making reforms back on July 9. Those changes are in effect as of July 23.

The key elements of the market making reforms are:

  • confirmation that market making responsibilities are assigned to brokerage firms rather than to individuals; and
  • the introduction of new qualifications for market maker firms, including the introduction of minimum capital requirements to ensure that each market maker firm has the financial resources to effectively perform its market making responsibilities.

The RS notice provides firms with additional detail concerning the manner in which security assignments will be allocated amongst firms who act as market makers for TSX listed securities and the eligibility criteria applicable to market makers.