NFA published the attached notice to remind members that provisionally registered swap dealers (SDs) and major swap participants (MSPs) are required to submit policies and procedures relating to those requirements no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2013. NFA further requests that members submit SD and MSP policies and procedures prior to the CFTC's required submission date to allow time for NFA staff to confirm receipt of responsive materials and to accommodate potential follow-up with SDs and MSPs in the event of an incomplete submission. In its December 18, 2012 Interim Final Rule, the CFTC

The Commodity Markets Oversight Coalition ("CMOC") submitted an amicus brief in support of the CFTC in its appeal of a federal district court's ruling vacating its promulgation of position limit rules for physical commodities, ISDA v. CFTC, 887 F. Supp. 2d 259 (D.D.C. Sep. 28, 2012). CMOC's brief argues that the CFTC's rules are supported by the rise of speculative traders in the early 2000s, which "fundamentally altered the commodity derivatives markets to the detriment of commodities users" and by a congressional mandate that the CFTC take "swift decisive action" to end the "serious problem"

The SEC announced the agenda for a meeting of its Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies on Wednesday, May 1. See below for the full agenda. 9:30 a.m. Opening Remarks M. Christine Jacobs and Stephen M. Graham, Advisory Committee Co-Chairs Lona Nallengara, Acting Director, SEC Division of Corporation Finance 9:45 a.m. Presentation by and discussion with Duncan L. Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Euronext 11:00 a.m. Break 11:15 a.m. Presentation by and discussion with William R. Hambrecht, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, WR Hambrecht + Co. 12:30 p.m. Lunch 2:00 p.m

The SEC announced the agenda for its Credit Ratings Roundtable, which will be held at the SEC's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 14. The roundtable, which was previously announced, will consist of three panels, with panelists to be named later. The first panel will discuss the potential creation of a credit rating assignment system for asset-backed securities. The second panel will discuss the effectiveness of the SEC's current system to encourage unsolicited ratings of asset-backed securities. The third panel will discuss other alternatives to the current issuer-pay business model, in

FINRA announced that Susan Axelrod will become FINRA's Executive Vice President of Regulatory Operations. In this role, Axelrod will oversee Enforcement, the Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence, and Member Regulation ( i.e., Sales Practice, Risk Oversight and Operational Regulation and Shared Services). Ms. Axelrod previously was the head of FINRA's Member Regulation - Sales Practice area. Mike Rufino, Chief Operating Officer of Member Regulation - Sales Practice, will assume the role of acting head of the Sales Practice group. Click here to learn more (links externally to FINRA