FINRA Reg. Notice 12-12 The SEC approved amendments to FINRA’s Code of Procedure. The amendments are procedural in nature and include the following, in addition to several more minor changes: allowing service of a complaint (and notices of certain expedited proceedings) on counsel when counsel agrees to accept such service; permitting electronic filing of papers with an adjudicator; requiring an attorney seeking to withdraw from a disciplinary case to file a motion before withdrawal would be approved; allowing hearing officers to manage the parties’ pre-hearing submissions to reduce and

FINRA Reg. Notice 12-11 The SEC approved the adoption of new FINRA Rule 4524 (Supplemental FOCUS Information), which requires each firm, as FINRA shall designate, to file such additional financial or operational schedules or reports as FINRA may deem necessary or appropriate for the protection of investors or in the public interest as a supplement to the FOCUS Report. The SEC also approved the adoption of one such schedule, the Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI), as a supplement to the Statement of Income (Loss) page of the FOCUS Report. Dates: The implementation date of FINRA Rule 4524

Speech by Commissioner Chilton In response to rising gasoline prices at the pump, CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton once again lists numerous academic studies, reports, and citations that purport to support the contention that speculators have some effect on commodity prices. He concludes that "given the breadth, depth, and overall trending of these figures, there can be no doubt that speculative activity does indeed have some effect on commodity pricing." Cross References: Dodd-Frank Section 737.

The Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight issued an interpretation regarding the time period for which past performance is required to be disclosed by persons required to register as CTAs because they engage in off-exchange retail foreign currency transactions ("retail forex"). Such persons ("Forex CTAs") are required to disclose performance information for the period beginning October 18, 2010, the date upon which the Commission's regulations governing retail forex became effective. A Forex CTA that chooses to present past performance information for any period of time prior to

77 FR 9734 The CFTC is adopting final rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Act's business conduct requirements for swap dealers and major swap participants in their dealings with counterparties, including "Special Entities." These rules prescribe external business conduct standards for swap dealers and major swap participants. In particular, the rules prohibit certain abusive practices, require disclosures of material information to counterparties and require SDs/MSPs to undertake certain due diligence relating to their dealings with counterparties, but do not apply to transactions initiated on a