FINRA filed with the SEC a proposed rule change to amend FINRA Rules 7510 and 7540 relating to fees for the Alternative Display Facility ("ADF"). See: Text of Proposed Rule Change.

FINRA issued a notice regarding the SEC-approved rule change to adopt additional financial and operational Rules 4314 ("Securities Loans and Borrowings"), 4330 ("Customer Protection – Permissible Use of Customers' Securities") and 4340 ("Callable Securities") for the consolidated FINRA Rulebook. The new consolidated rules govern (i) securities loans and borrowings, (ii) permissible use of customers' securities and (iii) callable securities. The rules are in part based on, and replace, provisions of the NYSE and NASD rules. Effective Date: May 1, 2014. Lofchie Comment: While these requirements

SIFMA and other trade associations (together, the "Associations") submitted comments to the U.S. Congress urging the Members to raise the federal debt limit. In the letter, the Associations stated that if the President and Congress fail to raise the debt limit, the Treasury will be unable to meet government obligations coming due which would "trigger a series of events that would inevitably lead to American taxpayers paying more to finance our debt." SIFMA signed the letter with eight other agencies, including the American Bankers Association ("ABA"), the American Insurance Association ("AIA")

President Barack Obama announced his intent to fill several key Administrative posts, including Norman C. Bay as Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), who will be designated Chairman upon his approval. See : White House Press Release.

The text of an intergovernmental agreement ("IGA") to implement FATCA between the Republic of Mauritius and the United States has been released.The IGA, which was signed on December 27, 2013, is a Model 1A (Reciprocal) agreement under which Mauritius' financial institutions will be required to provide information with respect to accounts held directly or indirectly by U.S. persons to Mauritius, and Mauritius will automatically transmit such information to the U.S. IRS. S ee: Mauritius-U.S. FATCA IGA. See also: Cabinet FATCA Materials, including Cadwalader's Guide to FATCA