MFSA Warning Addressed to Consumers Regarding the Risks Related to Investing in Highly Volatile Financial Instruments
MARCH 17, 2021

The MFSA would like to remind financial services consumers especially retail investors to be careful when trading in highly volatile shares. When consumers invest in certain financial instruments, the price of which is highly volatile, they should keep in mind the risks associated with these type of investments and keep in mind that they can lose part or all of the money invested. It is very important that consumers understand the features of the financial instruments they would like to invest in especially the risks associated with that investment and the implications that such risks may pose.

Consumers should invest in a financial instrument if that product meets their needs and the decision to invest or otherwise should not be based on media hype. Retail investors should always get the required information from reliable sources. Consumers should always transact with licensed entities and should always check the fees that they will incur. In particular, retail investors should consider consulting an investment advisor before investing in this type of financial products and should always assess the risk involved in particular if the investment to be undertaken involves trading on margin.

Consumers are also encouraged to read the statement issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (‘ESMA’) on the risks connected with trading decisions based exclusively on exchanges of views, informal recommendations and sharing of trading intentions through social networks and unregulated online platforms. This statement may be accessed via this link.

To confirm whether an entity is licensed by the MFSA, consumers can access the Financial Services Register. For additional information, you may reach out to us via our Contact us page, email or phone +356 21441155.

Verżjoni bil-Malti

L-MFSA tixtieq tfakkar lill-konsumaturi tas-servizzi finanzjarji speċjalment lill-investituri ż-żgħar biex joqogħdu attenti meta jinvestu f'ishma volatili ħafna. Meta konsumaturi jinvestu f'ċerti strumenti finanzjarji li l-prezz tagħhom huwa volatili ħafna, għandhom iżommu f'moħħhom ir-riskji assoċjati ma’ dan it-tip ta' investimenti u jżommu f'moħħhom li jistgħu jitilfu parti jew il-flus kollha li jkunu nvestew. Huwa importanti ħafna li l-konsumaturi jifhmu l-karatteristiċi tal-istrumenti finanzjarji li jixtiequ jinvestu fihom speċjalment ir-riskji assoċjati ma’ dak it tip ta’ investiment u l-implikazzjonijiet li riskji bħal dawn jistgħu joħolqu.

Konsumaturi għandhom jinvestu fi strument finanzjarju jekk dak il-prodott jissodisfa l-ħtiġijiet finanzjarji tagħhom u d-deċiżjoni li jinvestu jew le m'għandhiex tkun ibbażata fuq hype tal-midja. Investituri għandhom dejjem igibu l-informazzjoni meħtieġa minn sorsi affidabbli. Il-konsumaturi għandhom dejjem jagħmlu tranżazzjonijiet ma' kumpaniji liċenzjati mill-MFSA u għandhom dejjem jiċċekkjaw l-ispejjez relatati ma’ dik it-transazzjoni. B’mod partikolari, l-investituri li m’ għandhomx daqshekk għarfien u esperjenza f’dawn tip ta’ strumenti finanzjarji għandhom jikkunsidraw li jieħdu parir mingħand konsulent dwar l-investiment qabel ma jinvestu f’dan it-tip ta’ prodotti finanzjarji u għandhom dejjem jivvalutaw ir-riskju involut b’mod partikolari jekk l-investiment li jinvolvi kummerċ fuq marġni.

Il-konsumaturi huma mħeġġa wkoll jaqraw id-dokument maħruġ mill-ESMA  dwar ir-riskji konnessi ma 'deċiżjonijiet ta' nvestimenti ibbażati esklussivament fuq skambji ta' fehmiet, rakkomandazzjonijiet informali u qsim ta' intenzjonijiet ta’ kummerċ permezz ta' netwerks soċjali u pjattaformi onlajn mhux regolati. Din id-dikjarazzjoni tista' tiġi aċċessata permezz ta' din il-link.

Biex jikkonfermaw jekk entità hijiex liċenzjata mill-MFSA, il-konsumaturi jistgħu jaċċessaw il-Reġistru tas-Servizzi Finanzjarji. Għal informazzjoni addizzjonali, tista' żżur il-paġna tagħna, tibgħat imejl jew iċċempel fuq +356 21441155.