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Without admitting to wrongdoing, Alcatel-Lucent is paying $137 million to settle United States Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it paid bribes of over $8 million to government officials in Asia and Latin America prior to 2006 in order to secure telecommunications contracts.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is drawing up rules aimed at providing closer oversight of high-speed, computerized securities trading. Such trading has been implicated in various market disruptions including a temporary failure of the Nasdaq Stock Market in August 2013.

The article reports on investigations by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations' and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) into the activities of large U.S. banks including J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Topics include concern over the oversight of firms that trade commodities, a discussion of the U.S. Federal Reserve's involvement with banks with commodities holdings, and how banks' aluminum holdings have impacted industrial metal buyers.

The article discusses conflict concerning the investigative procedures of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission as of July 2013, focusing on the views expressed by the commissioner Scott O'Malia at a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives. Topics include subpoenas, enforcement, and the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial law.

The article reports that both the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Great Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have taken action against high-speed trading firm Panther Energy Trading LLC for alleged manipulation of commodities markets. The FCA fined Panther chief executive Michael J. Coscia over $900,000, while the CFTC fined Panther $1.4 million and ordered it to give back profits on certain trades.

The article reports that Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has relented on his insistence that CFTC rules governing swaps immediately be applied to U.S. bank branches operating abroad. On July 11, 2013 and under pressure from European regulators and U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, Gensler expressed support for a plan to phase the rules in over several months, and potentially exempt the branches from them.

The article reports that Gary Gensler, Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is proposing to partially delay regulations on derivative securities which would have required that U.S. banking industry firms operating in foreign countries comply with U.S. rules on swaps. It is reported that Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew urged Gensler to have the CFTC more closely coordinate with other countries.

The article discusses the U.S. financial services industry as of June 10, 2013, with a focus on imposing U.S. derivative rules on foreign banks and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) chairman Gary Gensler. Topics include finalization of swaps rules, how foreign banks will not be obligated to comply with U.S. rules, and competition in banking.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against U.S. Bancorp's U.S. Bank subsidiary in June 2013 for facilitating Peregrine Financial Group's embezzlement of customer funds. Topics include allegations that U.S. Bank was aware of Peregrine founder Russell Wasendorf's activities, how the CTFC is working to better regulate customer funds, and a report on similar allegations against bank J.P. Morgan Chase.

The article reports that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is considering Amanda Renteria, a former aid to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, as a potential successor to Gary Gensler as chairman of the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Details are presented about Renteria's professional background, as well as on circumstances that have dimmed CFTC commissioner Mark Wetjen's chances to succeed Gensler.

The article discusses the decision facing Gary Gensler, the top regulator in the U.S. futures industry, after a request by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama that Gensler serve a second term as chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Topics include leadership of the financial regulatory agency and financial management of the U.S. derivatives market under Gensler.

The article discusses the job market in the U.S. for government employees with specialized skills and contracts, with a focus on the effects of policy changes such as the 2010 Dodd-Frank bill for the reform of financial industries. Topics include demand by private financial firms for employees from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); CFTC regulation of financial institutions; and compliance with the Dodd-Frank legislation.

The article reports that financial firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed to pay a fine of $1.5 million to settle charges from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that it failed to properly supervise a former trader, Matthew Marshall Taylor, who at one point had concealed an $8.3 billion futures position from Goldman. CFTC commissioner Bart Chilton had sought a much larger fine.

The article reports that Intrade, a company that accepts online bets from consumers on a wide range of outcomes including those related to elections, announced in November, 2012 it would no longer accept business from patrons in the U.S. The move followed a complaint from the U.S. Commodity Futures and Trading Commission against Intrade alleging the company had violated rules that proscribe off-exchange options trading.

The article reports that Republican Party members of the U.S. House of Representatives of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations have reprimanded former Chief Executive (CEO) of the firm MF Global Holdings Ltd. Jon S. Corzine. It is said that the committee was investigating MF Global's bankruptcy as of November 2012.

The article looks at the effects of Hurricane Sandy in the U.S. on October 29, 2012. It reports on flooding that occurred in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as customers who lost electrical power due to the storm. Other topics covered include storm-related deaths, the economic impact of the storm's damage, and government mandated evacuations in New Jersey and Delaware.

The article discusses the role of lawyer Eugene Scalia, the son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, in arguing against financial regulations. It is said that Scalia believes that U.S. regulators ought to consider the economic impacts of their actions, contending that economic losses result from some regulations.

The article looks at efforts to regulate transactions involving complex derivative securities such as credit default swaps, as of September 2012. It reports that deadlines set out under the 2010 U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for foreign governments to adopt rules on swaps are not being met. Comments are presented from Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The article presents comments from U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman Gary Gensler made on May 21, 2012, concerning stronger U.S. government regulation of the finance industry. The article states that Gensler's comments came in the wake of the announcement that U.S. bank J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. lost over $2 billion in securities trades as of mid-May 2012.

The article reports that Louis Freeh, bankruptcy trustee for the failed commodity brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd. testified to the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee that he will not seek bonuses for executives of the firm who are still employed. Those executives are assisting Freeh in seeking to return funds to creditors.

The article states that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed charges in U.S. federal court in New York City on April 2, 2012, alleging that Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) made illegal trades with itself in order to gain tax benefits. The article states that the suit alleges that between 2007 and 2010, RBC officials coordinated with two subsidiaries on transactions of futures contracts.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has delayed until December 31, 2011 the date on which firms must begin complying with new rules governing derivatives called for by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulatory-reform law. Fewer than half of the 387 new rules specified by Dodd-Frank covering derivatives and other areas of finance had been completed by mid-June, 2011.

The article looks at the 2012 derivatives trading scandal referred to as the "London whale" at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. bank, presenting information from an investigation by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and citing the bank's settlement agreement with the commission.

The article reports that the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council, a group of officials of government agencies which regulate finance, held an emergency teleconference to discuss the impact of the government shutdown and possible default on U.S. public debts.

The article announces that U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler has decided to step down from his position by the end of 2013, focusing on a reported revamping of the nation's derivatives market, as well as information on London interbank offered rate-related lawsuits.

The article reports that David Meister will resign as head of the enforcement division of the U.S. Commodity Trading Futures Commission (CFTC) in October 2013.

The article reports that the U.S. Senate will begin consideration of legislation appropriating funds for government operations for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2013, and is likely to remove the provision in the legislation passed by the House removing funds for the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act.

The article reports that U.S. President Barack Obama advocated changes to U.S. firearms law at remarks made at a memorial service for the 12 persons killed in the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard shootings in September 2013.

The article notes issues stemming from the ownership by banks of assets such as physical commodities, power plants, and oil tankers, and reports that a September 14, 2013 speech by Bart Chilton of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is expected to call for full disclosure by banks of these assets.

The article discusses Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley as of September 2013, focusing on his concerns about the reportedly slow progress that is being made in terms of developing and implementing global rules for derivatives markets and over-the-counter derivatives.

The article reports that former chief executive and former assistant treasurer of MF Global Holdings Ltd., Jon Corzine and Edith O'Brien, respectively, have requested that the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, New York dismiss the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC's) .

The article looks at U.S. regulation of high-speed futures trading as of 2013, reporting the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has released a preliminary document seeking input from commodity market officials and others and citing glitches that have occurred in securities exchanges.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) could vote by the end of September 2013 on a regulation which will limit the percentage of the market which could be held by one trading firm in some commodities.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is preparing regulations which would require futures brokers to have twice as much collateral as has previously been required.

The article presents financial industry news briefs as of August 27, 2013, covering Michael Coyne's resigned as head of litigation for bank J.P. Morgan Chase and Co., the barring of Peregrine Financial Group Inc. accountant Jeannie Veraja-Snelling by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and loans from Western Sky Financial LLC.

The article notes that by one estimate fewer than 40% of the financial-regulatory rules called for by the 2010 U.S. Dodd-Frank financial law have been drafted, and reports that on August 19, 2013 President Barack Obama urged regulators to hasten the process.

The article offer finance-related news briefs for August 2, 2013 regarding Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC's promotion of Ross McEwan to chief executive officer, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC's) consideration of swaps-trading platforms, and an increase in U.S. mortgage rates.

The article reports the U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of Kara Stein and Michael Piwowar as commissioners at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 1, 2013 and the Senate also voted to extend SEC Chairman Mary Jo White's term to June 2019.

The article looks at the metals market as of July 2013, focusing on investigations being undertaken by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the U.S. Justice Department of companies, including banks, which own metals warehouses, related to concerns about price manipulation.

The article discusses a July 12, 2013 vote by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to postpone implementation abroad of certain U.S. rules for derivatives, and the CFTC's decision to determine by December 2013 whether U.S. banks operating in certain foreign countries can observe their host nations' swap rules rather than U.S. rules.

Financial news briefs are presented for June 20, 2013, including an initial public offering (IPO) for concrete company Votorantim Cimentos SA, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) charges against ABN Amro Bank, and allegations of short selling of Life Partners Holdings Inc. stocks.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed separate lawsuits against the website Banc de Binary, which allows users to bet n the price of gold, oil, and stocks, alleging the illegal offer of options in June 2013.

The article discusses a report from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC's) inspector general that is critical of the CFTC's preparedness for dealing with the 2011 collapse of futures brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd., and expresses concern that CFTC head Gary Gensler recused himself from the ensuing investigation into MF Global.

The article looks at the regulation of swaps, a type of derivative security, as of May 2013, reporting on rules adopted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) under the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The article reports on U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew's opposition to efforts in the U.S. Congress to amend the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act so as to weaken regulation of swaps, a type of derivative contract, by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The article discusses a proposal approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that would allow foreign branches of U.S. banks to observe foreign regulations regarding swaps when doing business with swaps dealers outside the U.S.

The article looks at U.S. securities trading regulation, reporting on remarks by U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) head Gary Gensler, following an April 2013 disruption in trading caused by a false Twitter microblog, on the need for regulation of automatic high-speed trading.

The article discusses how a crisis on the Korean peninsula has revealed shortcomings in relations between the U.S. and China regarding nuclear weapons, with some convinced that China could react to the U.S. deployment of anti-missile technology in response to North Korean threats by bulking up its own nuclear arsenal.

The article reports on delays in the drafting of regulations under the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act on swaps trading by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, chaired by Gary Gensler, as of April 2013, and cites the creation of novel investment products.

The article reports that U.S. regulations on complex derivatives known as swaps has benefited the futures market as financial firms such as CME Group Inc. and IntercontinentalExchange Inc. develop more futures-based products.