Guidance

New Implementation Date for and Additional Guidance on the Consolidated FINRA Rules Governing Know-Your-Customer and Suitability Obligations

Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education Issues Firm Element Advisory Update

Treatment of Non-Margin Eligible Equity Securities

FINRA Revises Sanction Guidelines

FINRA Reminds Firms of Their Obligations Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

FINRA Revises the Sanction Guidelines

The staff granted an exemption from FINRA Rule 5130 with respect to purchases of “new issues” by the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund.

SEC Approves Amendments to the Trading Activity Fee and FINRA Announces Publication of Frequently Asked Questions

Margin Requirements for Exempted Securities Mutual Funds and Exempted Securities ETFs

Application of Rules on Communications With the Public and Institutional Sales Material and Correspondence to Certain Free Writing Prospectuses

Sales Practice Obligations for Commodity Futures-Linked Securities

Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education Issues Firm Element Advisory Update

Supplemental FOCUS Filing Requirement Applicable to Certain Joint Broker-Dealers/Futures Commission Merchants

FINRA is reviewing activities of member firms acting as or working with placement agents in soliciting and/or obtaining business with municipalities and public pension funds.

New Alert-Reporting Criterion for Leverage in FOCUS Reports

FINRA Reminds Firms of Their Sales Practice and Due Diligence Obligations When Selling Municipal Securities in the Secondary Market

Obligation to Provide Timely, Complete and Accurate Information on Form U5

Exemptive relief is granted based on: the representation that at the time of the contribution the individual was not an MFP (as defined); the firm already has a significant business relationship with the government entity of which the contribution recipient was considered to be an issuer official; the firm has instituted information barriers on certain municipal business communications; the individual will be prohibited from the solicitation of certain new municipal business for a period of time.

FINRA's Enforcement Department is conducting a review of broker/dealers that provide Direct Market Access, Naked Access, Electronic Access or Sponsored Access ("DMA") to their customers.

Change to Expedited Proceedings for Failure to Comply with an Arbitration Award or Related Settlement

Exemptive relief is granted based on: the representation that at the time of the contribution the individual had no connection to the firm’s municipal securities business, and it was not contemplated that, at the time of the contribution, he would be promoted and, thus, become a municipal finance professional (as defined); the firm has significant and long standing business relationships with the government entity of which the contribution recipient was an issuer official; the firm has established additional compliance processes about political contributions; the individual will not be involved in any way in municipal securities business with the state or any other governmental issuer business for which the contribution recipient is an issuer official.

New System for Processing Regulation T and SEA Rule 15c3-3 Extension of Time Requests

Changes to Customer Complaint Reporting Procedures Under NASD Rule 3070(c) and NYSE Rule 351(d)