Book excerpt: In recent decades, the volume of EU legislation on financial law has increased exponentially. Banks, insurers, pension funds, investment firms and other financial institutions all are increasingly subject to European regulatory rules, as are day to day financial transactions. Serving as a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to European banking and financial law, the book is organized around the three economic themes that are central to the financial industry: (i) financial markets; (ii) financial institutions; and (iii) financial transactions. It covers not only regulatory law, but also commercial law that is relevant for the most important financial transactions. It also explains the most important international standard contracts such as LMA loan contracts and the GMRA repurchase agreements. Covering a broad range of aspects of financial law from a European perspective, it is essential reading for students of financial law and European regulation.