Andrew Bailey, the current Managing Director of the Financial Services Authority's Prudential Business Unit, has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Prudential Authority. (On April 1, 2013, the Prudential Regulatory Authority will become responsible for the prudential regulation and supervision of banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers, and major investment firms.) Mr. Bailey will also become a Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, and a member of the Bank's Court of Directors, the Financial Policy Committee and the Board of the Financial Conduct Authority.

In a February 19, 2013 interpretive letter, the Chief Counsel of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance confirmed that over-the-counter options cleared by The Options Clearing Corporation (the "OCC") would qualify as "covered securities" under Sec. 18(b)(1)(C)of the Securities Act. The letter principally relied on an opinion by the OCC's counsel that such options were equal in seniority to OCC-issued standardized options listed on a national securities exchange named in Sec. 18(b)(1)(A) of the Securities Act or Rule 146(b) thereunder. Cross-Reference(s): See generally Blue Sky Law

SEC Chairman Elisse Walter delivered remarks at the American University School of Law in which she discussed the ways in which the Commission's online technology has allowed the SEC to achieve its goals. Below are some of her main points: Better Data Analysis, e.g., Market Information Data Analytics System ("MIDAS") and the Consolidated Audit Trail ("CAT"); More Stable Market Structure, e.g., Reg SCI - a regulation aimed at improving systems compliance and integrity; Analytical tools developed by the Commission will generate real-time risk analytics in support of filings review, examination

Representatives of SIFMA, Fidelity, PIMCO, Vanguard, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and JP Morgan discussed with the CFTC Staff the reasons for eliminating the minimum request for quote standard in connection with the proposed rulemaking governing swap exchanges. Click here to view CFTC Staff and all visitors and organizations present (links externally to CFTC website).

FINRA has amended Rule 4530 (Reporting Requirements) to provide member firms: an exception for reporting information that is reported on the Form U4; an exception for reporting findings and actions by FINRA; and the option of filing required documents online using a new form. The implementation date for the exception for reporting information that is reported on the Form U4 (Rule 4530(e)) and the exception for reporting findings and actions by FINRA (Rule 4530.10) is March 4, 2013. The implementation date for the option of filing required documents online using the new form (Rule 4530(g)) is