FINRA is filing with the SEC a proposed rule change to extend through January 31, 2014, the current rules permitting the use of multiple Market Participant Symbols ("MPIDs") in FINRA Rules 6160 [Multiple MPIDs for Trade Reporting Facility Participants], 6170 [Primary and Additional MPIDs for Alternative Display Facility Participants], and 6480 [Multiple MPIDs for Quoting and Trading in OTC Equity Securities]. View Proposed Rule Change here (links externally to FINRA website).

CME Clearing Europe added two new over-the-counter (OTC) European natural gas forward contracts for clearing: the United Kingdom (UK) National Balancing Point (NBP) Natural Gas Physically Delivered Forward contract and the Netherlands (NL) Title Transfer Facility (TTF) Natural Gas Physically Delivered Forward contract. These contracts will be listed for clearing on CME ClearPort and will be subject to the rules of CME Clearing Europe, CME Group's European clearing house. The contracts will launch on February 25, 2013 subject to approval by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). View Press

The European Banking Authority has published a risk assessment report on the European Banking System, which provides an update on potential risks and vulnerabilities. Highlights of the report include observations that: Markets for bank funding have improved, as well as secondary market prices for debt and equity; Spreads remain high and the level of asset encumbrance could create an adverse effect on the availability and cost of funding; and Although banks have significantly strengthened their capital positions, concerns remain about the quality of banks’ asset and valuation criteria in many

The English High Court has ruled that the identity of more than 100 employees and former employees implicated in a test case concerning the manipulation of LIBOR must be released into the public domain. In his ruling, Mr Justice Flaux deemed that there was insufficient proof of any prejudice that would be caused to the trial by the fact the individuals would be named, but said he would give more detailed reasons for his judgment at a later date.

The SEC filed a complaint against a securities industry professional, Kevin L. Dowd, who is an employee of a brokerage firm, claiming that Dowd violated the federal securities laws’ prohibition on insider trading in breach of a duty he owed to his employer, the brokerage firm. Specifically, the SEC alleges that Dowd tipped material nonpublic information regarding the November 21, 2011 public announcement that Gilead Sciences, Inc. would acquire Pharmasset, Inc. to a friend and former business associate who bought Pharmasset securities and who, in turn, tipped his friend and former business