Phone call to NYSE set off Braikan…

Topix SEC NewsA phone call to the New York Stock Exchange from an investor worried that he’d just been duped helped spark a chain of events early last week that led U.S. authorities to file fraud charges against a Kuwaiti financier, who was later found dead in his home.Read full story

SEC to file insider trading charge against Advance America CEO

Topix SEC NewsThe Securities and Exchange Commission plans to recommend insider trading charges be filed against Kenneth Compton, president and chief executive officer of Spartanburg-based payday lender Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.Read full story

Reactions to the short-selling rule

It’s been almost 24 hours since the Securities and Exchange Commission said it would make permanent a rule put in place as an emergency backstop that aims to curb so-called naked short-selling, or selling short a security without first borrowing it, as well as boost disclosure rules related to short sales.Read full story

Earnings slow market rally July 28, 2009

Topix SEC NewsInvestors are still building on a stock market rally even when the news isn’t all great.Read full story

Judge to weigh Stanford “claw backs” on Friday

A U.S. District Court judge on Friday will weigh whether the court-appointed receiver overseeing the financial empire of Allen Stanford can recoup $925 million from investors who bought certificates of deposit in the accused swindler’s Antigua bank.Read full story

July 29, 2009, issue

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July 30, 2009, issue

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FINRA 2009-07-27: FTC’s Red Flags Rule Template

FINRA staff discuss the FTC’s Red Flags Rule and introduce a new template that firms can use to set up an identity theft prevention program. Hosts: Patricia Albrecht and John Komoroske; Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

FINRA 2009-07-29: Leadership Series: Regulatory Reform

FINRA Chairman and CEO Rick Ketchum discusses regulatory reform and why independent regulation is more relevant than ever. Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

440 investors defrauded in $50M scheme

Eds: APNewsNow. Moving on general news and financial services. The Securities and Exchange Commission says about 440 investors were defrauded of $50 million in a Ponzi scheme run in the Detroit area.Read full story

SEC settles cases against Avery Dennison

Topix SEC NewsLOS ANGELES Adhesive label maker Avery Dennison Corp. on Tuesday settled a case that accused it of promising or making improper payments to foreign officials.Read full story

‘Candid’ Madoff explained fraud

A lawyer for victims of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme says the financier told him during a 4 1/2-hour prison interview plenty of details about the fraud, including how it took place and how securities regulators missed catching him.Read full story

Incentive Pay Ban, Shareholder Vote on Compensation Passed by House Panel

Topix SEC NewsThe U.S. House Financial Services Committee approved legislation that would let regulators ban incentive pay at banks and give shareholders a vote on bonuses in response to public outrage over Wall Street pay.Read full story

Nasdaq backs ban on “flash” trading: Schumer

Topix SEC NewsThe Nasdaq Stock Market supports a ban on so-called “flashes,” order types that it and other stock-trading venues send to a select group of traders fractions of a second before revealing them publicly, Senator Charles Schumer said on Tuesday.Read full story

July 27, 2009, issue

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July 28, 2009, issue

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SEC Files Civil Fraud Charges Against California-Based Secured Lender

A federal judge in California has given Medical Capital Holdings, a secured lender to the healthcare industry, until July 23 to file an opposition to a Securities and Exchange Commission motion for a temporary restraining order following allegations that the company engaged in a multimillion dollar offering fraud.Read full story

Court Spikes SEC Rule 151A

Purveyors of fixed annuities scored a legal victory as U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled against the Securities and Exchange Commission in a case involving a controversial rule.Read full story

SEC charges TD Ameritrade for auction rate securities sales practices

Topix SEC NewsThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday that it has settled charges against TD Ameritrade, Inc.Read full story

Sen. Charles Schumer warns SEC that it must curb high-speed traders’ flash order advantage

Topix SEC NewsSenator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has warned the Securities and Exchange Commission that if it does not curb the practice of flash orders, which give traders at large financial firms with high-speed computers a brief advantage over other market participants, he will move to sponsor legislation to limit their use.Read full story

Now, KPMG’s Under Fire

Topix SEC NewsAccountancy audited company it had invested in; SEC none too pleased. Elsewhere: Aurora’s ex-CFO gets jail time, and Chainsaw Al agrees to pay Sunbeam shareholders $15 million.Read full story

July 21, 2009, issue

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July 22, 2009, issue

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July 23, 2009, issue

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July 24, 2009, issue

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FINRA 2009-07-20: Anti-Money Laundering: Institutional - Due Diligence for Foreign Correspondent Accounts

This podcast, the audio version of a FINRA webcast, describes anti-money laundering due diligence requirements for working with foreign correspondent accounts. Hosts: Patricia Albrecht and Alma Angotti; Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

Pfizer Receives Approval From European Commission For Pending Acquisition Of Wyeth

Topix SEC NewsJul 17, 2009 - Pfizer Inc today announced that the European Commission has approved under the European Union Merger Regulation the company’s pending acquisition of Wyeth.Read full story

Wall St group backs Obama broker standard proposal

Topix SEC NewsA U.S. securities industry lobbying group said on Friday it supports a proposal by the Obama administration to hold brokers to a higher standard for protecting clients’ interests when giving investment advice.Read full story

SEC Makes ‘Wish List’

Topix SEC NewsThe Securities and Exchange Commission has sent a a oewish lista of 42 changes it would like made to federal securities law.Read full story

US mkt regulator seeks Indiaa s nod to probe Satyam

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency to regulate the securities industry in that country, has sought Indiaa s permission to probe the multi-million dollar Satyam fraud case.Read full story

Morgan Stanley paying $500,000 to settle SEC charges of misleading clients in Nashville

Morgan Stanley on Monday agreed to pay a $500,000 penalty to settle federal regulators’ charges that it misled customers in its Nashville office about the money management firms it recommended and from which it received commissions.Read full story

July 16, 2009, issue

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July 17, 2009, issue

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July 20, 2009, issue

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FINRA 2009-07-13: Non-Traditional Exchange-Traded Funds

FINRA staff discuss sales practice obligations relating to non-traditional exchange-traded funds, known as ETFs. Hosts: Angela Goelzer and Tom Pappas; Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

Investor and SEC group seeks to weaken Fed power

A large group of investors with $3 trillion in securities assets and former top regulators on Wednesday released a report attacking the White House’s proposal to give the Federal Reserve more power as part of a massive regulatory restructuring under consideration on Capitol Hill.Read full story

Regions Financial unit receives Wells notice

Topix SEC NewsRegions Financial Corp.’s investment banking subsidiary, Morgan Keegan & Co., received a Wells notice related to “certain mutual funds formerly managed” by the brokerage.Read full story

Ex-Goldman analyst, others accused of inside trades

Topix SEC NewsU.S. regulators on Wednesday filed civil charges for insider trading against 11 people, including a 26-year-old former Goldman Sachs Group Inc investment banking analyst accused of leaking confidential merger information to his brother.Read full story

Continue reading “SEC proposes municipal disclosure changes”

Topix SEC NewsFederal regulators today proposed tightening rules governing disclosures about municipal securities to aid investors in a multitrillion-dollar market used to finance schools, roads and hospitals around the country.Read full story

Administration’s proposal would give SEC oversight of hedge funds, other private capital pools

Topix SEC NewsThe Obama administration has sent legislation to Congress that would bring hedge funds and other private pools of capital under government supervision.Read full story

July 7, 2009, issue

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July 8, 2009, issue

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July 9, 2009, issue

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July 10, 2009, issue

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July 13, 2009, issue

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July 14, 2009, issue

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July 15, 2009, issue

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FINRA 2009-05-04: FINRA April 2009 Monthly Recap

Revisit the latest Notices, compliance resources and news from April 2009. Hosts: Kenneth Edward Piner and Kristy Salsbury. Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

FINRA 2009-07-01: FINRA June 2009 Monthly Recap

Revisit the latest Notices, compliance resources and news from June 2009. Hosts: Kenneth Edward Piner and Michelle Volpe-Kohler. Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

FINRA 2009-07-06: 2009 FINRA Examination Priorities: Part 5

The final installment of this five-part series focuses on priorities related to financial and operational compliance, and how they relate to clearing, carrying and all other firms. Hosts: Janet Marsh and Dan Sibears; Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

Another view: Now that Madoff’s sentenced, go after - and reform - SEC

The following editorial appeared in the San Jose Mercury News on Tuesday: - - - With a 150-year prison sentence Monday, Bernard Madoff got what he had coming to him - and certainly more than enough to guarantee that the 71-year-old master swindler will die in prison, not in the Hamptons.Read full story

State regulators target Omaha investment adviser

Topix SEC NewsNebraska regulators have ordered an Omaha investment adviser to quit violating state securities laws and appear at a hearing to defend his practices.Read full story

Prosecutors: Former press lord shouldn’t get bail

Topix SEC NewsFormer press lord Conrad Black should not be freed on bail while appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court his conviction for defrauding shareholders in his Hollinger International media empire, prosecutors said Monday.Read full story

Stanford Asks Judge for Access to Funds to Defend Against Criminal Charges

R. Allen Stanford , who the U.S. accuses of leading a $7 billion securities fraud, told a federal judge the criminal case against him should be thrown out if he doesna t get access to money to pay his lawyers.Read full story

Shake-up of SEC vital in wake of Madoff scandal

The Obama administration needs to move quickly on a promised shake-up of the Securities and Exchange Commission after the US financial watchdog failed to spot the illegal activities of jailed fraudster Bernie Madoff - a scandal that has dented confidence in the investment industry.Read full story

July 1, 2009, issue

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July 2, 2009, issue

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July 6, 2009, issue

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FINRA 2009-06-22: 2009 FINRA Examination Priorities: Part 4

This podcast, the fourth in a five-part series on examination priorities, focuses on market regulation topics. Hosts: Janet Marsh and Dan Sibears; Producer: Kenneth Edward Piner.Read full story

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Announces Financing

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has obtained a commitment to purchase shares of its 5% Series B convertible preferred stock pursuant to a registered direct offering to a single institutional investor, representing gross proceeds of approximately $1.36 million.Read full story

SEC seeks to freeze assets of California financier Danny Pang until after fraud trial ends

The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking to permanently freeze the assets of a California financier accused of bilking investors until his fraud trial is over.Read full story

SEC files lawsuit over excessive investment fees

Topix SEC NewsThe Securities and Exchange Commission says an Omaha investment adviser improperly charged at least $773,000 in fees to clients since last August, and about $250,000 remains missing.Read full story

Fraud spurs SEC to action

Monday brought some closure to Bernard Madoff’s victims, who were swindled out of $65 billion in the largest recorded financial fraud - a scheme that was exposed in part because the plummeting stock market led investors to demand repayment of money that was long gone.Read full story

Former Qwest CEO Nacchio seeks judgment in his favor in SEC lawsuit

Former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio asked a judge Tuesday to decide in his favor in a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit, saying the company’s stock plunge was the result of a telecommunications industry meltdown, not financial fraud.Read full story

June 17, 2009, issue

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June 18, 2009, issue

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June 19, 2009, issue

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June 22, 2009, issue

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June 23, 2009, issue

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June 24, 2009, issue

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June 25, 2009, issue

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June 26, 2009, issue

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June 29, 2009, issue

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June 30, 2009, issue

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