Regulating the regulator

The French equity market is in upbeat mood. In the first half of this year there were 71 IPOs on the Paris Bourse. That's more than the whole of last year when 68 companies came to the market – in itself a record. Trawl further back and you get a better idea of how things have changed: in 1995 only 26 companies listed. Those in the know in Paris are confidently predicting upwards of 120 companies being listed this year – provided, of course, there are no massive market blips. Companies