Selected FINRA notices and disciplinary actions, September 2012‐April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide selected Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Regulatory Notices and Disciplinary Actions issued in June, July, and August 2012.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides FINRA Regulatory Notice 12‐40, SEC Approves New FINRA Rule 5123 Regarding Private Placements of Securities; Regulatory Notice 12‐44, SEC Approves Amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements); Regulatory Notice 12‐55, Guidance on FINRA's Suitability Rule; and Regulatory Notice 13‐13, Trading and Quotation Halts in OTC Equity Securities; Trade Reporting Notice of April 17, 2013: Reduction of Reporting Times for Agency Pass‐Through Mortgage‐Backed Securities Traded TBA.FindingsNotice 12‐40: FINRA Rule 5123 is part of a multi‐pronged approach to enhance oversight and investor protection in private placements; the rule will provide FINRA with more timely and complete information about the private placement activities of firms on behalf of other issuers. Notice 12‐44: The SEC approved amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements) related to option spread strategies, maintenance margin requirements for non‐margin eligible equity securities, free‐riding, “exempt accounts” and stress testing in portfolio margin accounts. Notice 12‐55: This Notice addresses two issues discussed in Regulatory Notice 12‐25: the scope of the terms “customer” and “investment strategy.” Notice 12‐25 provided guidance in a “frequently asked questions” format in FINRA Rule 2111 (Suitability). Notice 13‐13: The SEC approved amendments to FINRA Rule 6440, which provides authority for FINRA to initiate trading and quotation halts in OTC equity securities in circumstances where it is necessary to protect investors and the public; the rule provides authority to impose foreign regulatory halts, derivative halts and extraordinary event halts. Trade Reporting Notice of April 17, 2013: FINRA reminds firms of the coming reduction in reporting periods for the timely reporting of transactions in agency pass‐through mortgage‐backed securities traded TBA (to be announced) for good delivery and products not traded for good delivery.Originality/valueThese FINRA notices are selected to provide a useful indication of regulatory trends.