The SEC order approving a FINRA-proposed rule change, as modified by partial Amendment No. 1, to broaden arbitrators' authority to make referrals during arbitration proceedings was published in the Federal Register. Originally, the proposed rule change was filed on July 12, 2010. Subsequently, it was amended, withdrawn and re-proposed on January 29, 2014. The rule change amends FINRA Rule 12104 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes and Rule 13104 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes to broaden arbitrators' authority to make mid-case referrals if

SIFMA submitted a comment letter to the SEC regarding proposed amended rules and forms relating to money market funds. The proposed amended rules eliminate references to ratings from Investment Company Act Rule 2a-7 ("Money Market Funds") and modify Form N-MFP. SIFMA provided "six main comments" on the proposals: the SEC should revise the proposed definition of "eligible security" to eliminate the new phrase "which determination [of minimal credit risks] must include a finding that the security's issuer has an exceptionally strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations"; the SEC

SIFMA submitted a comment letter to the SEC requesting further relief from the recently imposed requirement under the Financial Responsibility Rules that a broker-dealer obtain prior written consent from a customer before placing customer funds into a Sweep Program. Since the current relief from the requirement is scheduled to expire on March 3, 2015, SIFMA requested that SEC staff reissue the current no-action letter without a sunset date, explaining that the current relief generally works well within the context of member firms' existing system and procedures. The current relief, according

SIFMA sent a letter to the operating committee for the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privilege Basis ("Nasdaq-UTP Plan") criticizing the process of selecting a replacement for Nasdaq as the Securities Information Processor ("SIP") operator. SIFMA explained that SIPs are critical industry facilities, and reminded the operating committee that SIFMA has called repeatedly for a change in the governance of all National

According to an article dated October 14 in The Bond Buyer, MSRB General Counsel Gary Goldsholle will leave the MSRB after serving for over two years. See: Bond Buyer Article titled " Goldsholle to Leave MSRB."