MFA released the latest edition of its monthly newsletter, the Policy Brief. The newsletter details a number of MFA's recent advocacy and outreach initiatives, including: MFA's response to the European Securities and Markets Authority on its consultation and discussion papers on MiFID II and MiFIR; a list of priorities sent to CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad and the four CFTC Commissioners; and a comment letter submitted to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission on OTC derivatives reporting rules, as well as a comment letter to ESMA on its EMIR clearing of

In the latest installment of the Energy Metro Desk series "Around the Desk," Editor-in-Chief John Sodergreen discusses CFTC Commissioner nominations and the new LIBOR license fees, among other topics. In the Energy Metro Desk article, Mr. Sodergreen comments that, with the departure of Scott O'Malia at the CFTC, the partisan lineup at the Commission consists of three Democrats to one Republication. According to Mr. Sodergreen's prediction, the vote will land on a Democratic nomination. Additionally, the article discusses the "dust-up" between banks, dealers and ICE over the cost of new LIBOR

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") issued an updated booklet, titled "Merchant Processing," which is part of the Comptroller's Handbook. This booklet, which replaces the edition that was issued in December 2001, has been revised to include the supervision of the federal savings associations. The booklet is intended to provide updated guidance to examiners and bankers on assessing and managing the risks associated with merchant processing activities. See: Merchant Processing Booklet; OCC Press Release.

The MSRB requested that the SEC approve proposed Rule G-18, which establishes the explicit requirement that municipal securities dealers seek the most favorable price possible when executing transactions for retail investors. The proposal also includes amendments to Rule G-48 ("Transactions with Sophisticated Municipal Market Professionals") and Rule D-15 ("Sophisticated Municipal Market Professional"). Under proposed Rule G-18, dealers would be required to use "reasonable diligence" to ascertain the best market for a subject security and buy or sell in that market so that the resulting price

The SEC announced that its Chief Information Officer Thomas Bayer will leave the agency in October. Mr. Bayer launched a "Working Smarter" program that established analytical systems, automated workflow and data visualization tools. Mr. Bayer also managed the technology development of the SEC's Tips, Complaints and Referral ("TCR") system and developed tools that allowed SEC examiners, investigators, economists, analysts and other professionals to access records easily. S ee: Press Release.