The US Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted amendments to delay the expiration date of Rule 206(3)-3T under the 1940 Investment Advisers Act. The temporary rule, which was supposed to expire on December 31, 2010, will now stay in effect until December 31, 2012. Rule 206(3)-3T gives investment advisers that…
Articles Posted in Miscellaneous
Wall Street and its Friends in Washington Want Congress to “Crawfish” on Financial Industry Regulatory Reforms
The Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, a nonpartisan research group, is urging lawmakers to conduct oversight hearings on the way that financial reform legislation is being implemented. CCMR claims that the rulemaking process of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulators is “seriously flawed,”…
Actions of Former Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. General Counsel Accused of Supervising Rogue Broker to be Reviewed by SEC
The Securities and Exchange Commission will be taking a closer look at the actions of ex- Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. General Counsel Theodore Urban. Urban has been accused of failing to reasonably supervise stockbroker Stephen Glantz, who was involved a stock market manipulating scam with Innotrac Corp. stock. It is…
Compliance with 1934 Securities Exchange Act Reporting Requirements During Annual Broker-Dealer Audits is Key, Say SEC Officials
Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Trading and Markets Robert Cook and Chief Accountant James Kroeker are reminding auditors that it is important that they comply with specific 1934 Securities Exchange Act reporting requirements when performing annual broker-dealer audits. Earlier this month, the two SEC officials sent a letter to…
Fiduciary Standard in Securities Industry Doesn’t Need New Definition
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Ketchum says that there should be just one flexible, fiduciary standard for investment advisers and broker-dealers who offer personalized investment advice. Ketchum spoke at a conference earlier this month. Ketchum noted that seeing as investment advisers and broker-dealers essentially work…
Final Regulation for Disclosure in Participant-Directed Individual Account Plans Issued by US Department of Labor
The US Department of Labor has put out a final regulation that establishes the fiduciary requirements for disclosure in 401 (k)’s and other participant-directed individual account plans. The final regulation was issued under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The DOL guidance also comes with a final amendment…
“Flash Crash” – Why is This So Hard to Understand?
“On May 6, 1010, the New York Stock Exchange was intentionally shut down for 90 seconds by those in charge,” recounts Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Founder and Securities Fraud Lawyer William Shepherd. “When this happened there was no market (bid and ask quotes) for many large cap stocks, except…
NASAA Recommends Best Practices After Finding Brokers Deficient in Five Areas
The North American Securities Administrators Association says that broker-dealer compliance programs throughout the country tend to exhibit deficiencies in several key areas: • Registration and licensing • Sales practices • Operations • Supervisions • Books and records Failure to follow written procedures and policy for supervision, variable product suitability, and…
Amendments to Russian Securities Law Aim to Enhance Transparency and Corporate Disclosure
This month, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed into law amendments to his country’s securities legislation. He signed the Federal Law No. 264-FZ to amend provisions of Federal Law No. 39-FZ “On Securities Market.” The State Duma, the Parliament’s lower house, and the Federation Council have all adopted the new amendments,…
Court Orders Southridge Partners Limited Partnership Dispute to Arbitration
The Delaware Chancery Court is dismissing Aris Multi-Strategy Fund LP’s action to obtain access to Southridge Partners LP books and records and sending the case to arbitration. Aris is a Southridge limited partner. According to Chancellor William Chandler III, arbitration for this case is contractually mandated. Aris is seeking access…