On November 2nd, the SEC voted to adopt amendments that will require broker-dealers to disclose new and enhanced information about the way they handle investors’ orders. The rule amendment is intended to make it easier for investors to evaluate how brokers handle their orders and ultimately make more informed choices about the brokers with whom they do business.
Continue reading "Brokers Must Provide Increased Information to..." »Wednesday, November 28. 2018
Brokers Must Provide Increased Information to Investors on Order Handling
Wednesday, November 21. 2018
Thanksgiving Hours
The SEC will be closed Thursday, November 22 in observance of Thanksgiving Day. The EDGAR System will not receive, process or accept filings on this day. Filings with a due date of November 22 will be due the following business day.
Continue reading "Thanksgiving Hours" »Monday, November 19. 2018
New Release (4.24b) for the GoFiler Family of Products
Version 4.24b of all applications in the GoFiler Suite has been released. This release contains a number of corrections and improvements to the XBRL View and to various EDGAR form views. Additionally, simple HTML proofing is now available as a beta feature for the N-PORT forms.
Continue reading "New Release (4.24b) for the GoFiler Family of..." »Thursday, November 15. 2018
SEC Releases Report On Investor Testing
As part of the SEC’s ongoing efforts to help address investor confusion about the nature of their relationships with investment advisers and broker-dealers, the SEC’s Office of the Investor Advocate released a report on investor testing to the public on November 7th. This report was conducted by the RAND Corporation and was based on investor testing feedback on a sample Relationship Summary issued in April 2018 as part of a package of proposed rulemakings and interpretations that were designed to enhance the quality and transparency of investors’ relationships with investment industry entities.
Continue reading "SEC Releases Report On Investor Testing" »Friday, November 09. 2018
SEC Enforcement Division Issues Report on FY 2018 Results
The SEC’s Enforcement Division issued its annual report of its ongoing efforts to protect investors and market integrity on November 2nd, 2018. The report highlights several significant actions and initiatives that took place in FY 2018.
Continue reading "SEC Enforcement Division Issues Report on FY..." »Thursday, November 08. 2018
SEC Issues Statement on Business Conduct Standards for Security-Based Swap Transactions
On October 31, the SEC issued a statement setting forth its position for a limited time period concerning specific provisions of its Business Conduct Standards for Security-Based Swap (SBS) Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap Participants (Entities). Certain actions with regard to these provisions will not provide a basis for a Commission enforcement action. In addition, the SEC’s position on the ability of parties to security-based swaps to rely on written representations is also addressed by the statement. This statement is intended to minimize potential market disruptions to existing counterparty relationships resulting solely from documentation implementation issues that may arise when security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants are required to register with the SEC. Once they are registered with the SEC, entities that are also registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will be required to comply with both the SEC’s Business Conduct Standards as well as analogous rules adopted by the CFTC in 2012 applicable to SBS Entities.
Continue reading "SEC Issues Statement on Business Conduct..." »Wednesday, November 07. 2018
SEC Updates List of Firms Using Inaccurate Information to Solicit Investors
The SEC has updated the Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list. This list, maintained by the Commission, contains unregistered entities and firms that use misleading information to solicit investors. Sixteen soliciting entities, four impersonators of genuine firms, and eight bogus regulators have been added to the list. Many of the targets of these firms are non-US investors, and all investors should be cautious in dealing with such entities. In addition, the SEC made technical updates to its database to improve the ability of retail investors to search for and obtain information about unregistered entities. This update consolidates active and archived lists.
Continue reading "SEC Updates List of Firms Using Inaccurate..." »Monday, November 05. 2018
SEC Modernizes Property Disclosures Required for Mining Registrants
On October 31st, the SEC voted to adopt amendments to modernize the property disclosure requirements and related guidance for mining registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under these final rules, a registrant with material mining operations must disclose specified information regarding its mineral resources and reserves in its SEC filings. These amendments will provide investors with a more comprehensive understanding of a registrant’s mining properties, as well as more closely align the SEC’s disclosure requirements and policies for mining properties with current industry and global regulatory practices and standards as embodied by the Committee for Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO). The amendments also rescind Industry Guide 7 and consolidate the disclosure requirements for registrants with material mining operations in a new subpart of Regulation S-K.
Continue reading "SEC Modernizes Property Disclosures Required..." »Thursday, November 01. 2018
SEC Proposes Disclosure Improvements for Variable Annuities and Variable Life Insurance Contracts
On October 30th, the SEC proposed rule changes concerning variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts that would improve disclosure for investors. The amendments are aimed at helping investors better understand these contracts’ features, fees, and risks. They are also designed to aid investors in finding the information needed to make informed investment decisions more easily. The Commission is seeking public comment on their proposed modifications.
Continue reading "SEC Proposes Disclosure Improvements for..." »