The MSRB named Sharon Zackula as its new Associate General Counsel for the MSRB Market Regulation Department. Prior to joining the MSRB, Ms. Zackula served as an associate general counsel and associate vice president at FINRA. See: Press Release.

FINRA CEO and Chairman Rick Ketchum delivered opening remarks at the FINRA Annual Conference, focusing on how to regain investor trust and confidence in the markets. According to Chairman Ketchum, much of FINRA's recent work has contributed to improving the protection of investors and market integrity. One of the changes, Chairman Ketchum noted, was the transformation of FINRA's risk-based exam program to be more data-driven. FINRA fully implemented the Request Manager system in 2013, which streamlined the exchange of information between FINRA and its firms. Additionally, the Risk Control

The CFTC Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight ("DSIO") granted no-action relief from certain registration requirements to a delegating CPO in accordance with the streamlined approach described in CFTC Letter 14-69. The DSIO stated that it will not recommend enforcement action to the CFTC against the delegating CPO for failure to register under CEA Section 4m(1) in connection with the operation of the pool, subject to the conditions that (i) the designated CPO serves as the CPO of the pool, (ii) the designated CPO remains registered as a CPO and (iii) the delegating CPO and

The CFTC issued an Order that filed and simultaneously settled charges that Global Futures Forex, Ltd. ("GFF"), a CFTC-registered futures commission merchant ("FCM") and former retail foreign exchange dealer ("RFED"), failed to comply with the minimum financial requirements for FCMs and RFEDs. See: Global Futures Forex Order.

The SEC issued an investor alert warning of the potential for fraud in microcap companies whose operations relate to the marijuana industry. The alert follows the SEC's fifth suspension in the past two months of a company claiming to be involved in the marijuana industry for which concerns were raised about the accuracy of the company's assets, revenues and other financials. The investor alert states that fraudsters often exploit the latest growth industry to lure investors with the promise of "high returns." According to Elisha Frank, SEC Co-Chair of the Enforcement Division's Microcap Fraud