In the wake of the collapse of the subprime residential mortgage market, the leading bond rating agencies are beginning to crack down on what they see as risky lending practices in commercial real estate as well. Like residential loans, commercial mortgages are pooled and packaged into bonds that are sliced…
Ronald Peteka, a former Morgan Stanley & Co. client services representative, was arrested last month. According to Michael Garcia, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Peteka allegedly stole proprietary information about hedge funds from Morgan Stanley while working with one of the brokerage firm’s consultants for…
Geoffrey Brod, a former Aeltus Investment Management LLC portfolio manager has been charged by the SEC with concealing personal stock trades held by mutual funds that he was overseeing. The SEC is also charging him with falsifying internal reports. According to the SEC, Brod’s wrongful activities are in violation of…
As earlier reported, the securities firm of Edward Jones was ordered by the SEC to pay a total of $79 million to its clients and former clients. According to the SEC, the company failed to disclose kickbacks the firm received from various mutual fund companies, known as the “Preferred Fund…
The SEC is considering a new policy that could let companies resolve shareholder complaints via arbitration. If adopted, this policy could limit a shareholder’s ability to sue the company in court. A move toward arbitration could shift the balance of power between corporate managements and shareholders during a time when…
Edward Jones is now sending checks and making electronic payments to its current and former customers as part of its settlement of revenue sharing claims. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the distribution of $79 million from the “Fair Fund” (also known as the “Edward Jones & Co., L.P. Qualified…
Christopher Cox brought a sense of calm to the Securities and Exchange Commission after he became chairman. Rather than the split, partisan votes that had become the standard under the previous chairman, Mr. Cox has appeared to look for the widest support possible. Under Mr. Cox, every vote made on…
A study released by the NASD Investor Education Foundation, in cooperation with AARP Foundation and WISE Senior Services, looks at why certain senior investors are more likely to become victims of investment fraud. The report is called “Off the Hook Again: Understanding Why the Elderly Are Victimized by Economic Fraud…
William S. Lerach, a prominent plaintiffs’ attorney, met with SEC staff members last week to try to convince the agency to support investor lawsuits filed against banks accused of helping corporate executives engage in fraud. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that will look at the…
6. The Continuation of Market Timing Cases Market timing cases involving the SEC affected both sides of the trading desks. Those in charge of approving or facilitating market timing trades and as persons directly involved in market timing trades were singled out by the SEC, and significant monetary penalties were…