SIFMA issued the attached letter to FINRA regarding the dissemination of information regarding TRACE-eligible securities transactions. In the letter, SIFMA made the following recommendations, in effect advising that the status quo be maintained: (i) do not increase dissemination caps for investment grade TRACE-eligible securities or non-investment grade TRACE-eligible securities;(ii) postpone any recalibration of dissemination caps for TBA transactions until the market impact is known; and (iii) do not publicly disseminate Rule 144A transactions for the time being. Click hereto view letter in

On October 12, the CFTC's Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (DSIO)issued temporary registration relief (CFTC Letter 12-15) for individuals and entities that trade and/or arrange and submit cross trades, block trades, and EFS/EFPs in IFUS energy futures and options contracts; the relief also extended the registration application deadline until December 31, 2012 for all impacted persons to complete and file with NFA. IFUS urges affected individuals and firms to ensure that they satisfy the registration requirements outlined in the DSIO's no-action letter to avoid any disruption

The SEC announced that Jennifer B. McHugh has been named Senior Advisor to the Director in its Division of Investment Management. Beginning December 17, McHugh will be advising the Director of Investment Management on issues related to mutual funds and investment advisers. Click here to view press release (links externally to SEC website).

The US Treasury, the OCC, OFAC, FinCEN, and the Federal Reserve announced administrative actions involving HSBC relating to anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act compliance. See: Treasury Department Press Release; OCC Press Release; Federal Reserve Press Release.

The CFTC's Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (DSIO) announced the issuance of the attached no-action letter relating to the fingerprinting requirement under CFTC Rule 3.10(a)(2) for certain principals of CFTC registrants. The no-action letter is in response to requests from market participants for relief from the fingerprinting requirement for principals of CFTC registrants where the principals have not resided in the United States since reaching 18 years of age (Non-U.S. Principals). Specifically, the no-action letter provides that DSIO will not recommend an enforcement