CME Group announced its candidates for election to serve on the company's board of directors. The Board also agreed to move forward with the adoption of a majority voting standard and plans to formally adopt amendments to its Bylaws and Corporate Governance Principles prior to its 2013 annual meeting in May.

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, issued the attached statement on the settlement deal to recover much of the $1.6 billion in customer funds that went missing with the now-collapsed MF Global. The approved deal will recover about 93 percent of the lost customer money for those with U.S. accounts. Senator Stabenow stated that she will "continue to fight for customers to get more money back, as well as holding wrongdoers accountable." Click hereto view statement in full (links externally to U.S. Senate Committee on

The purpose of the meeting was for the SEC to consider the following: Recommendations as to trading spreads on smaller exchange-listed companies (in particular, whether the interval between ticks should be increased to allow more dealer profit with the aim of encouraging market-making in such companies), Creation of a separate U.S. equity market limited to sophisticated investors for small and emerging companies, and Disclosure rules for smaller reporting companies. In the opening remarks, SEC Chairman Walter stated that to support the SEC's attempts at enhancing investor protection and

The SEC announced that George S. Canellos, currently Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement, has been named Acting Director; David P. Bergers, Director of the SEC's Boston Regional Office, has been named Acting Deputy Director. The appointments are effective February 8. See: George S. Canellos Named Acting Director of Enforcement (SEC Press Release) and David P. Bergers Named Acting Deputy Director of Enforcement (SEC Press Release). See also related news story: Enforcement Director Robert Khuzami to Leave SEC

New SRO rules and rule proposals have been announced by the SEC. Click on the links to view the SEC's notices of each rule change and proposal. BATS: Effective Immediately - Rule Change to Amend BATS Rules Related to Price Sliding Functionality (See also: Exhibit 5) BATS: Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change to Modify the Competitive Liquidity Provider Program to, Among Other Things, Modify the Calculation of Size Event Tests (See also: Exhibit 5) BATS: Order Approving Proposed Rule Change to Modify BATS Rule 11.23 relating to Auctions of Exchange-Listed Securities BATS: Effective