The CFTC issued a final order to provide for the continuation, shutdown and resumption of certain operations of the CFTC, and to alert all persons regulated by or engaged in proceedings at the CFTC of these provisions in the event of a lapse in appropriations. The following issues are addressed in the attached release: Tolling and Extension of Certain Procedural Time Limits. The CFTC shall not process any filings or review any matters for Commission approval or action to the extent that the matters are not directly related to the protection of property for the duration of a shutdown

FINRA filed for a Temporary Cease and Desist Order against John Carris Investments, LLC ("JCI") and its CEO, George Carris, to immediately halt solicitations of its customers to purchase Fibrocell stock without making proper disclosures. FINRA alleges that JCI fraudulently solicited its customers to buy Fibrocell stock without disclosing that, during that same time period, Carris and another firm principal were selling their shares. See: FINRA News Release.

The National Futures Association's ("NFA") amendments to Compliance Rule 2-38 ("Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan") are effective on September 30, 2013. See: NFA's Recent Manual Updates.

The CFTC approved the application of Nodal Exchange, LLC ("Nodal"), previously operating as an exempt commercial market ("ECM"), as a designated contract market ("DCM"). In conjunction with the approval of Nodal's designation, the CFTC approved the transfer of contracts and open interest in contracts currently listed on the ECM to the DCM. Separately, the CFTC Division of Market Oversight also provided no-action relief to Nodal to allow for the simultaneous listing and trading of contracts, on Nodal's first date of operation as a DCM, as Nodal transitions from its operating status as an ECM to

The CFTC Division of Market Oversight staff responded to frequently asked questions from market participants and other interested parties regarding commodity options. The responses included: general information regarding the regulation of commodity options, including the circumstances in which they are regulated as swaps; general information regarding the filing of CFTC Form TO ("Unreported Trade Options"); and answers to various technical questions regarding Form TO, trade options reporting, and CFTC No-Action Letter 13-08 (granting no-action relief from certain reporting and recordkeeping