The SEC announced that Jennifer B. McHugh has been named Senior Advisor to the Director in its Division of Investment Management. Beginning December 17, McHugh will be advising the Director of Investment Management on issues related to mutual funds and investment advisers. Click here to view press release (links externally to SEC website).

On October 12, the CFTC's Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (DSIO)issued temporary registration relief (CFTC Letter 12-15) for individuals and entities that trade and/or arrange and submit cross trades, block trades, and EFS/EFPs in IFUS energy futures and options contracts; the relief also extended the registration application deadline until December 31, 2012 for all impacted persons to complete and file with NFA. IFUS urges affected individuals and firms to ensure that they satisfy the registration requirements outlined in the DSIO's no-action letter to avoid any disruption

The US Treasury, the OCC, OFAC, FinCEN, and the Federal Reserve announced administrative actions involving HSBC relating to anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act compliance. See: Treasury Department Press Release; OCC Press Release; Federal Reserve Press Release.

The SEC is amending its regulations under the Exchange Act to extend the dates for certain requirements therein, and amending the General Instructions to Form 19b-4 to clarify the process for submitting advance notices and security-based swap submissions to the SEC. Further, the SEC is extending the dates with respect to the requirements that designated clearing agencies for which the SEC is the supervisory agency file advance notices and clearing agencies file security-based swap submissions with the SEC in an electronic format to dedicated email addresses to December 10, 2013. This is being

New rules and rule proposals have been announced from the SEC. Click on the links to view the SEC's notices of each rule change and proposal. BATS: Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change to List and Trade Shares of the iShares Sovereign Screened Global Bond Fund FINRA: Proposed Rule - Change to Establish Optional TRACE Data Delivery Services and Related Fees (See also: Exhibit 5) FINRA: Notice of Filing of Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to FINRA Rule 8210 ISE: Effective Immediately - Rule Change Regarding Payment for