NFA has updated several Registration Rules. The following rules have been modified: Rule 201 ("Registration Requirements and Procedures"): NFA shall perform registration functions in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Rules for all persons, except those who have been granted registration responsibilities pursuant to Section 8a(10) ("Registration of commodity dealers and associated persons; regulation of registered entities") or Section 17(o) ("Registered futures associations") of the CEA. Rule 203 ("Registration Fees"): Certain fees apply and must be remitted by check, bank draft

The GAO has issued a report to congressional committees regarding the effectiveness of Section 1502(b) ("Conflict Minerals") of Dodd-Frank concerning the exploitation of conflict minerals and the extreme levels of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ("DRC"). As required by Section 1502(b), the SEC issued a rule in August 2012 that requires companies to disclose their use of conflict minerals and the origins of those minerals. GAO found that stake-holder developed initiatives, like audit protocols and in-region sourcing of conflict minerals, may facilitate companies' compliance

As mandated by Dodd-Frank, GAO has issued a report regarding the SEC criteria for qualifying as an "accredited investor," the standard that generally allows the person to participate in private placements. The report examines market participants' views on the existing criteria for accredited investor status as well as alternative criteria. Participants with whom GAO spoke identified adding liquid investments and use of a registered adviser as attractive alternative criteria. The report discusses potential other criteria, such as education; e.g., having an MBA. In addition, the report considers

CFTC Commissioner Scott O'Malia has issued a Statement of Dissent to the CFTC's interpretive guidance and policy statement regarding the cross-border application of the CEA's swaps provisions. O'Malia argues that the CFTC's Guidance: (1) fails to articulate a valid statutory foundation for its overbroad scope and inconsistently applies the statute to different activities; (2) crosses the line between interpretive guidance and rulemaking; and (3) gives insufficient consideration to international law and comity. These shortcomings, he argues, are compounded by serious procedural flaws in the

FINRA filed with the SEC a proposed rule change relating to Participation on the Alternative Display Facility.The proposed rule change amends Rule 6271 ("Registration as an ADF Market Maker or ADF ECN") and Rule 6272 ("Character of Quotations") regarding the requirements for members seeking registration as FINRA Alternative Display Facility Market Participants. See: Text of Proposed Rule Change.