News Centre

SIFMA Submits Recommendations To FHFA On Guarantee Fees

Date 08/08/2014

SIFMA today submitted a comment letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in response to the agency's request for comment on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee fees (g-fees):

 "We commend FHFA for seeking input from the industry on g-fees, and believe this is a thoughtful and measured approach to this important issue," said said Randy Snook, SIFMA executive vice president, business policies and practices. "We encourage the FHFA to consider the broader context in which g-fees will be raised, and strike a balance that protects taxpayers from credit risk and ensures the availability of credit to mortgage borrowers without unduly raising costs.  Additionally, FHFA should consider the impact of any changes on liquidity in the market and incentives that might be created related to the choice of other funding channels such as private-label MBS or FHA.  Policymakers should consider g-fees in conjunction with other policy levers available and the broader market context when attempting to encourage more private label mortgage-backed securities issuance."

Financial Conduct Authority Temporary Prohibition Of Short Selling

Date 08/08/2014

The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) notifies that it temporarily prohibits short selling in the following instrument under Articles 23 (1) and 26 (4) of Regulation (EU) No 236/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012.  This follows a decision made by another EU Competent Authority.

SEC Names Thomas M. Piccone To Lead National Exam Program In Denver Office

Date 08/08/2014

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has named Thomas M. Piccone to lead the National Exam Program in the Denver Regional Office.

Second Circuit Decision Rejects Picard Suit And Allows New York Attorney General Schneiderman To Distribute $410 Million Fund To Madoff Victims - Second Circuit Court Of Appeals Rules Attorney General’s $410M Settlement Will Proceed - Schneiderman: This Ruling Is A Victory For Justice And Accountability

Date 08/08/2014

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Attorney General Schneiderman’s 2012 settlement with J. Ezra Merkin, who invested over $2 billion with Bernard M. Madoff on behalf of hundreds of investors, may proceed. The decision affirms a 2013 U.S. District Court ruling that denied an effort by Irving Picard, the Madoff trustee, to block the Attorney General’s Office from distributing the proceeds of the $410 million settlement directly to Madoff’s victims. Today’s ruling means that these victims should begin receiving the money in the coming months. 

Olivetree Securities Adopt OTAS TradeShaper For Best Execution Monitoring

Date 08/08/2014

Olivetree Securities, the independent agency broker, has adopted OTAS TradeShaper, the live microstructure analysis and trade management system from OTAS Technologies, to focus on the goals of best execution. Recent FCA findings on the rules of best execution observed that many firms do not understand key elements of the rules, and the regulator therefore expects all firms to review their best execution arrangements and take immediate action to comply with the rules.

TOM MTF Statistics Week 32, 2014

Date 08/08/2014

Click here to download the weekly statistics update of TOM MTF for week 32, 2014. 

Federal Trade Commission Announces Agenda For Upcoming Big Data Workshop

Date 08/08/2014

The Federal Trade Commission has announced an agenda for its upcoming workshop, “Big Data: A Tool for Inclusion or Exclusion?” taking place at 8 a.m. on Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C.

IMF Executive Board Discusses The IMF's Communication Strategy

Date 08/08/2014

On July 29, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed a paper prepared by the Communications Department on “Review of the IMF’s Communication Strategy.”

CME Group Reaches All-Time High Open Interest Of 103.4 Million

Date 08/08/2014

CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced it reached an open interest record across asset classes standing at 103,387,860 open positions as of August 7, 2014. This exceeds the previous record of 103,056,895 contracts on August 25, 2011.

EBA Welcomes The Publication Of The European Commission Report On The Operation Of The ESFS

Date 08/08/2014

The European Commission published today its Report on the operation of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) and the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS). The report recognises the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the three European Supervisory Authorities in contributing to restoring confidence in the financial sector and promoting the Single Rulebook. It also identifies areas where adjustments might be needed in order to improve and strengthen the functioning of the current institutional set up, also in light of the establishment of the Banking Union. The EBA welcomes this assessment and emphasises that a more pronounced increase in resources, further clarifications in roles and responsibilities on supervisory matters and possibly greater involvement in the developments of primary legislation would enable it to more effectively perform its role as guardian of the single rulebook in the banking sector as well as promoter of supervisory convergence and enhance the protection of EU consumers.