The National Futures Association ("NFA") issued a Notice to Members regarding the CFTC's recently adopted final rules which harmonize certain compliance obligations for CPOs of investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act that are now required to register as a CPO. The final rules provide that a CPO of a registered investment company ("RIC") may elect to comply with CFTC Part 4 ("CPOs and CTAs") disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements through substituted compliance with the applicable SEC rules for RICs, subject to certain conditions outlined in CFTC Rule 4.12

The National Futures Association ("NFA") notified all Members that the terms of certain elected Directors and of the members of the Nominating Committee will expire at the Board of Directors' 2014 regular Annual Meeting, and requested that the names of eligible persons to fill those positions be submitted to the Nominating Committee. The notice provides a list of FCM, IB, CPO, and CTA Board and Nominating Committee members whose terms will expire in February, as well as a nominating form to submit names of eligible persons to fill the vacancies. The following positions are open for member

FINRA filed for a Temporary Cease and Desist Order against John Carris Investments, LLC ("JCI") and its CEO, George Carris, to immediately halt solicitations of its customers to purchase Fibrocell stock without making proper disclosures. FINRA alleges that JCI fraudulently solicited its customers to buy Fibrocell stock without disclosing that, during that same time period, Carris and another firm principal were selling their shares. See: FINRA News Release.

The National Futures Association's ("NFA") amendments to Compliance Rule 2-38 ("Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan") are effective on September 30, 2013. See: NFA's Recent Manual Updates.

The CFTC's Division of Market Oversight ("DMO") issued a no-action letter providing time-limited relief for Australian-based trading platform Yieldbroker Pty Limited ("Yieldbroker"). The relief is intended to allow the CFTC and Yieldbroker time to negotiate an alternative compliance arrangement whereby Yieldbroker would continue to be regulated primarily in Australia. See: CFTC Letter 13-59.