Representatives of CME, Morgan Stanley, BNY Mellon, and PIMCO discussed with the CFTC Staff alternative segregation arrangements for cleared swaps customer collateral. Click hereto view CFTC Staff and all visitors present (links externally to CFTC website).

FINRA has issued a new Investor Alert called Duration - What an Interest Rate Hike Could Do to Your Bond Portfolio. This Alert helps investors understand the importance of duration risk. "With interest rates hovering near all-time lows, investors should make sure they know their duration numbers. Whether investors own individual bonds or bond funds, they need to understand that outstanding bonds with a low interest rate and high duration may experience significant price drops if interest rates rise," said Gerri Walsh, FINRA Vice President of Investor Education. View Alert in full here (links

CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler spoke before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee addressing swaps market reforms through the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. Chairman Gensler testified as to what he believes are the benefits which end-users will see as a result of recent swaps rulemaking reforms. Gensler stated that the putative benefits include: Increased transparency as a result of swap dealers being required to report in real time their interest rate and credit index swap transactions to the public and regulators, and a requirement (as of February 28, 2013) to

SEC Chairman Elisse B. Walter delivered a speech on the Commission's Dodd-Frank Act activities thus far, emphasizing the accomplishments over the past year. The main topics covered in her testimony include: Hedge Fund and Other Private Fund Adviser Registration and Reporting; Whistleblower Program; OTC Derivatives; Clearing Agencies; Staff Studies Regarding Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers; Credit Rating Agencies; Volcker Rule; Municipal Advisors; Asset-Backed Securities; Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation; Specialized Disclosure Provisions; Exempt Offerings; Financial

The MSRB is seeking approval from the SEC on a proposal to expand the disclosures made by municipal securities dealers in connection with contributions to bond ballot measure campaigns. The MSRB believes that making additional information available will help it and the public to determine the extent to which contributions affect the integrity of the municipal bond underwriting business. View Proposal in full here (links externally to GPO website). See also: Press Release.