President Obama issued an Executive Order directing agencies to develop priorities to increase market competition, better inform consumers and workers, and support the growth of the U.S. economy.

The House of Representatives passed a bill that directs the SEC to provide a safe harbor allowing broker-dealers to publish research reports on investment funds that are in continuous distribution without having to deem those reports to be "prospectuses."

A congressional subcommittee reviewed the impact of swaps capital and margin requirements on end users.

FINRA announced the effective date of and provided guidance on rule amendments to provide an exemption from certain reporting requirements for transactions on Alternative Trading Systems.

The House of Representatives voted to pass a bill to amend the Bank Holding Company Act to permit a hedge fund or private equity fund to share the same name, or any variation thereof, as a banking entity that is an investment adviser to the hedge fund or private equity fund subject to certain conditions.