The SEC published a request from Automated Matching Systems Exchange, LLC ("AMSE") seeking a limited volume exemption from registering as a national securities exchange under Exchange Act Section 6. The SEC published the request in the Federal Register to solicit the views of any interested persons on AMSE's exemption request, even though publication of such a request is not required by the Exchange Act. AMSE seeks to operate as a centralized market place for alternative trading systems ("ATS") without maintaining its own centralized order book. Instead, each of the ATS members would maintain

The SEC announced charges against both the CEO and the former CFO of QSGI Inc., a computer equipment company, for misrepresenting the state of the company's internal controls over financial reporting. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires a management report on internal controls over financial reporting to be included in a company's annual report, and also requires both the CEO and CFO of a company to sign certifications confirming they have disclosed all significant deficiencies to outside auditors and reviewed the annual report. The SEC Order alleges that both the CEO and the former CFO of the

On July 30, 2014, the European Council published its regulation and decision concerning trade and investment restrictions for Crimea and Sevastopol. The regulation prohibits EU nationals from entering into or participating in new infrastructure investments in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors of Crimea and Sevastopol. The regulation contains similar prohibitions related to participation in the exploitation of oil, gas and minerals in the region. The regulation also prohibits the export to Crimea and Sevastopol of key equipment and technology for the same sectors. The

The SEC announced that Alberto Arevalo was named as the new Associate Director in the Office of International Affairs. In his new role, Mr. Arevalo will oversee international enforcement, supervisory cooperation and technical assistance programs. See: SEC Press Release.

The SEC's proposal to grant exemptive relief from the immediate confirmation delivery requirements for transactions effected in shares of certain money market funds that maintain a stable net asset value ("NAV") was published in the Federal Register. Specifically, the order would exempt, subject to certain conditions, transactions effected in shares of any registered open-end management investment company that holds itself out as an ICA Rule 2a-7 money market fund from the immediate confirmation delivery requirements in Exchange Act Section 36 and Exchange Act Rule 10b-10. Comments on the