FINRA published a proposed rule change to amend FINRA Rules 2210 ("Communications with the Public") and 2214 ("Requirements for the Use of Investment Analysis Tools") in the Federal Register. The rule change would amend Rule 2210 to exclude from the filing requirements any research reports concerning only securities listed on a national securities exchange, other than those which must be filed pursuant to Investment Company Act Section 24(b) ("Registration of Securities under Securities Act of 1933"). The proposed rule would also clarify that free writing prospectuses that are exempt from

FINRA filed with the SEC a proposed rule change to update cross-references and make other non-substantive changes within FINRA rules, primarily as a result of the approval of new consolidated FINRA rules. FINRA filed the proposed rule change for "immediate effectiveness." The implementation date for the proposed rule change will be May 1, 2014. See: Text of Proposed Rule Change.

The Futures Industry Association ("FIA") Principal Traders Group issued a statement in anticipation of the release of Flash Boys, a book by Michael Lewis that describes some of the recent developments in electronic trading and market structure in the U.S. equity markets. FIA stated that it hopes "the book will draw attention to the dramatic changes in trading technology that have occurred in U.S. equity markets as well many other markets worldwide." According to FIA, the use of high-frequency trading tools has contributed to substantial improvements in market quality that have benefited

Members of the House Representatives and tech entrepreneurs met to discuss the impact of variety of issues related to data, including the recently passed H.R. 4164, according to the Data Transparency Coalition ("DTC"). The DTC stated that the U.S. Senate is poised to act on its version of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act ("DATA Act"), which was shepherded through the House of Representatives last November (388-1) by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). The DATA Act would mandate the implementation of government-wide data standards for public information on federal spending. Additionally

The CFTC Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight ("DSIO") issued three separate no-action letters providing relief to CPOs regarding the filing of their annual financial statements and reports, pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.7(b)(3) ("Exemption from Certain Part 4 Requirements for Commodity Pool Operators with Respect to Offerings to Qualified Eligible Persons and for Commodity Trading Advisors with Respect to Advising Qualified Eligible Persons") and Rule 4.22(d) ("Reporting to Pool Participants"). CFTC Letters 14-42 and 14-43 provided relief to two different CPOs of commodity pools who