FINRA filed with the SEC a proposal to incorporate NASD Rule 2430 ("Charges for Services Performed") into new FINRA Rule 2212. The proposed rule changes provides that charges, if any, for services performed, including miscellaneous services such as collection of monies due for principal, dividends, or interest, exchange or transfer of securities and other services shall be reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory among customers. See: Text of Proposed Rule Change; FINRA Rule Filing.

Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 115 was published in the Federal Register. The staff accounting bulletin rescinds portions of the interpretive guidance included in its Staff Accounting Bulletin Series for "pushdown" accounting in order to make the relevant interpretive guidance consistent with authoritative accounting guidance and SEC rules and regulations. Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 115 is effective November 21, 2014. See: 79 FR 69373. Related news: SEC Issues Staff Accounting Bulletin to Update Guidance on Pushdown Accounting (November 18, 2014).

The CFTC approved the application of NASDAQ Futures, Inc. ("NQF") for reinstatement as a designated contract market ("DCM"), effective November 21, 2014. NQF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. It was previously registered as a DCM, but became dormant on January 1, 2014. See: NASDAQ Order of Reinstatement of DCM; CFTC Press Release.

The SEC issued an Order to further extend its May 2010 exemption to nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") from certain requirements in Exchange Act Rule 17g-5(a)(3) ("Conflicts of Interest") with respect to certain credit ratings. This extension will expire on December 2, 2015. See : SEC Exemptive Order.

The Solar Energy Industries Association ("SEIA") provided the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department ("Treasury") with the detailed changes that they would like the IRS to make to Proposed Regulations Section 1.856-10 ( REG-150760-13). The changes relate to the definition of "real property" for purposes of real estate investment trust ("REIT") qualification in order to enhance the use of REITs to invest in solar energy properties. On August 12, 2014, SEIA filed initial comments to the Proposed Regulations. In supplemental comments that were filed on November 13, 2014, SEIA said that the