The CFTC consent Order from a federal court requiring estate funds to be allocated to make final restitution payments to customer claims is now effective after months of unsuccessful appeals. The consent Order, which was entered on November 8, 2013 by Judge Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, required that MF Global begin making final restitution payments after obtaining permission from the bankruptcy court to remedy any shortfall with funds of the MF Global general estate. In addition to full restitution, the consent Order imposed a $100 million

CFTC Acting Chair Mark Wetjen and Commissioner Scott O'Malia issued statements at the public roundtable concerning end users and Dodd-Frank. Acting Chair Wetjen and Commissioner O'Malia both stated that they are pleased to see the CFTC hold a meeting to address issues concerning end users. Acting Chair Wetjen stated that the CFTC will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would amend the de minimis exception from swap dealer registration to address an issue as to government-owned electric utilities and special entities. He explained that, going forward, the CFTC "must continue to remain

The SEC published in the Federal Register an extension of the comment period for two releases related to asset-backed securities: Securities Act Release No. 33-9117 (the "2010 ABS Proposing Release") and Securities Act Release No. 33-9244 ("Shelf Eligibility Conditions for Asset-Backed Securities"). The SEC is extending the comment period to allow interested persons to submit comments on the disclosure and registration requirements applicable to asset-backed securities. Comments must be received by April 28, 2014. See: 79 FR 18483. Related news: SEC Extends Comment Period for Two Releases

SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar delivered a speech discussing the main issues and debates surrounding the mutual fund industry, including the SEC's authority, equity market structure and cybersecurity threats. According to Commissioner Aguilar, the SEC historically has taken a "proactive" role in the asset management industry; however, he stated, activities of the Financial Stability Oversight Council ("FSOC") and its research arm, the Office of Financial Research ("OFR"), have recently undercut the SEC's authority. Commissioner Aguilar outlined the history of the SEC's regulation, mentioning

By an overwhelming 378-34 vote on April 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the amended version of H.R. 4152 that was approved by the Senate last week. The bill provides for sanctions against "persons responsible for violence or who undermine the independence, sovereignty, or territorial or economic integrity of Ukraine," as well as those "complicit in or responsible for significant corruption in the Russian Federation." The final bill omits the funding for controversial International Monetary Fund reforms that was included in the original Senate version of the bill but encountered