FINRA's Proposed Rules Relating to Research Published in Federal Register

Three FINRA-proposed rules regarding (i) debt research, (ii) research analysts and (iii) research reports were published in the Federal Register.

The FINRA proposal to adopt FINRA Rule 2242 ("Debt Research Analysts and Debt Research Reports") would address conflicts of interest relating to the publication and distribution of debt research reports. The proposed debt research rule is based on FINRA's existing equity research rule, NASD Rule 2711 ("Research Analysts and Research Reports"), but contains important modifications that FINRA considers necessary to reflect the differences between the equity and debt markets. Comments are due by December 15, 2014.

The FINRA proposal regarding research analysts and research reports would incorporate NASD Rule 2711 into the FINRA rulebook as FINRA Rule 2241, and amend NASDRule 1050 ("Registration of Research Analysts") to create an exception from the research analyst qualification requirement. Comments are due by December 15, 2014.

See: 79 FR 69905; 79 FR 69939.
Related news: FINRA Proposes to Amend Debt Research Rules (November 14, 2014); FINRA Proposes to Adopt NASD Rules Regarding Research Analysts and Research Reports into FINRA Rulebook (November 14, 2014).