The SEC announced that starting on May 25, 2013, the fee rates applicable to most securities transactions will decrease from $22.40 per million dollars to $17.40 per million dollars. See : Order - Adjustments to Fee Rates.

The MSRB Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting April 24-26 in Alexandria, VA, where it focused on efforts to consolidate numerous interpretations of a rule that forms the basis of a dealer's obligation of fair dealing. The MSRB has been working to restate certain interpretive guidance associated with MSRB Rule G-17on fair dealing into new or revised rules. The outcome of these efforts is expected to be a comprehensive package of rules that clarifies Rule G-17 obligations and that is expected to be filed with the SEC later this year. At this meeting, the Board: Incorporated comments

ISDA announced the publication on its website of the updated ISDA General Disclosure Statement and updated Annexes for the interest rate, foreign exchange, equity, credit and commodities asset classes, as well as a new annex for asset-backed securities (together, the "ISDA DF Disclosure"). View disclosures here (links externally to ISDA website).

SIFMA submitted comments and a Petition for Disapproval to the SEC on Nasdaq's proposal to increase certain of its market data fees. Since SIFMA believes NASDAQ's actions are inconsistent with the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in NetCoalition v. SEC, it is petitioning the SEC to suspend temporarily and institute proceedings to disapprove the rule change . Click here to view letter in full (links externally to SIFMA website).See the NASDAQ Proposal that is the subject of the objection: Immediately Effective Proposed Rule Change to Extend Fee

CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler provided the statement linked below in support of the Financial Stability Oversight Council's ("FSOC") annual report and recommendations. In his statement, he asserted the following: "There are two critical areas . . . in which the CFTC must complete reforms. First, it is a priority to finish rules to promote pre-trade transparency, including those for swap execution facilities and the block rule for swaps. Second, it's a priority that the Commission, working with domestic and international regulators, complete guidance on the cross-border application of swaps market