A broker-dealer agreed to settle NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") charges of stabilizing in connection with an offering of a security. According to the Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, Chardan Capital Markets LLC ("Chardan") allegedly entered stabilizing bids into the marketplace with regard to the offering of certain securities without providing notice of its intent to partake in such activity. In addition, FINRA and NYSE Arca, Inc. are undertaking concurrent disciplinary actions regarding Chardan's alleged failure to have adequate written supervisory procedures in place. To settle

The Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board and FDIC proposal allowing "advanced-approaches" banking organizations ( i.e., those with $250 billion or more in total consolidated assets, or $10 billion or more in on-balance sheet foreign exposure) to use an alternative approach for calculating derivative exposures under regulatory capital rules was published in the Federal Register. Comments must be received before February 15, 2019. As previously covered, the proposed approach - the standardized approach for counterparty credit risk ("SA-CCR") - would replace the current exposure

FINRA proposed to amend Rules 7610A and 7620A to reduce the fees charged to retail participants that utilize the FINRA/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility ("TRF") Carteret and/or the FINRA/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility Chicago.

The SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") encouraged investment advisers to review their policies regarding electronic messaging, and to consider improvements to their compliance programs. In a Risk Alert, the OCIE noted that changes in the ways mobile and personal electronic devices are used pose challenges for investment advisers in meeting their obligations under Advisers Act Rules 204-2 (the "Books and Records Rule") and 206(4)-7 (the "Compliance Rule"). The Books and Records Rule requires investment advisers to make and retain certain records related to their

The CFTC request for public feedback on the technologies underlying Ether and the Ethereum Network was published in the Federal Register. Comments must be submitted before February 15, 2019. As previously covered, the CFTC wants to gather information on a range of questions related to the underlying technology and markets for virtual currencies beyond Bitcoin.