The SEC's priorities reflect a mix of (i) political initiatives that are important to the Biden administration (i.e., ESG); (ii) responses to recent market events (including market structure and payment for order flow, securities-based swap ownership and SPACs); (iii) systemic risk issues (i.e., money market funds); and (iv) market mechanics issues (i.e., finishing up the swaps rules and transfer agents).

This is the third joint statement by Republican Commissioners Peirce and Roisman…

A U.S. dollar CBDC seems inevitable. When Senator Warren and former CFTC Chair Giancarlo agree on something, on anything, it is probably time to act. At what point does continuing to conduct studies create delays that may weaken the competitive position of the dollar in the global economy (or at least fail to capitalize on its strengths)?

Chair Gensler raises important questions on market structure. Markets and market technology have changed since the adoption of Regulation NMS. Improvements require periodic and substantial revisits.

That said, pushing for T+0 settlement seems to be evidence of an overwillingness to force changes that may be detrimental in practice. The rate and amount of change simply may be more than businesses can bear. The impetus to move to T+1 settlement was arguably an overreaction to issues…

The FINRA proposals are significant not only as to the volume of information required to be reported, but also as to the technology that will be required to deliver this information to FINRA and for FINRA to sift through and organize it. While there is no doubt that certain of this information will benefit the regulators in better understanding the market, firms should consider what the costs will be of providing the information, and whether there is a subset of the information that would…