FINRA Trying to Be More Transparent; No Easy Trick

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Brokerdealer regulator FINRA trying to be more transparent is no easy trick considering that its constituency is often conflicted when it comes to the topic of disclosure and visibilty, but industry veteran Tom Gira, EVP of Market Regulation is putting his best foot forward.

(Traders Magazine) –Nov 19–The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is right on top of the evolving financial market structure and to that end, has announced new initiatives designed to increase market transparency.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is right on top of the evolving financial market structure and to that end, has announced new initiatives designed to increase market transparency.

Thomas Gira, Executive Vice President, Market Regulation at FINRA, laid out the regulator’s future plans in remarks made Tuesday, November 15 at the Inaugural Traders Magazine Equity Market Structure Town hall forum at the Upper Story in New York City. In speaking to the audience, he assured that the group is on top of changes in the market and seeks to continue to provide clarity, guidance and transparency into the trading markets.

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Tom Gira, FINRA EVP Market Regulation

Gira provided a brief recap of what initiatives have already been put into place, creating a “multi-faceted safety net for the markets and are designed to promote investor confidence.” Among the changes, he told of how regulators adjusted the market-wide circuit breakers, which give market participants an opportunity to assess their positions, valuation models and operational capabilities when extreme periods of volatility occur. On top of that, the marketplace now has a limit up/limit down regime, which addresses the type of sudden individual stock-price movements that the market experienced during the May 2010 flash crash.

Also, he reminded that the Securities and Exchange Commission has also passed the Market Access Rule, which requires firms entering orders into the market, or allowing their customers to enter orders into the market, to have pre-trade controls to avoid erroneous and duplicative orders and to establish pre-trade capital and credit controls on orders entered into the market, among other things. And most recently, the SEC implemented Regulation SCI to strengthen the technology infrastructure of the U.S. securities markets.

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“In sum, I think we are rightly focusing on the evolution of the market more than whether there is something seriously wrong with the market,” Gira said. “So in that vein, I would like to focus on how FINRA is working to stay ahead of issues through our focus on transparency and by making use of innovative technology in our surveillance programs.”

Among the new transparency initiatives, FINRA is continuing to look at ways to expand its Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine, or TRACE, which looks at the trading of corporate bonds and their trade data, including the price and size. The system is now looking at expanding TRACE to include transaction and quote data for the $13 trillion Treasury market.

“There is currently no centralized trade reporting system for Treasuries. Regulators, including FINRA, the SEC, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board, have taken steps to implement a transaction-reporting regime for Treasuries,” he said. “Starting next July, firms will have to report certain transactions in Treasury securities to TRACE.”

At this time, he added FINRA will not disseminate information on transactions in Treasuries. This new requirement will significantly enhance the ability of FINRA and other regulators to understand trading activity in Treasury securities.

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Boutique Broker-Dealer Makes Veterans Day Month Pledge

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Mischler Financial Group Annual Veterans Day Month Pledge: Three Philanthropic Missions;

Securities Industry’s Oldest SDV-Owned Firm Gives Back and Pays Forward

(AP Newswire) Stamford, CT & Newport Beach, CA –November 1, 2016 —Veterans Day is observed by Americans each year on November 11; the day that is dedicated to honoring and extending our gratitude to the millions of men and women who have served within the US military. At Mischler Financial Group (“Mischler”), the financial industry’s oldest institutional brokerage and investment bank owned and operated by service-disabled veterans, Veterans Day is observed every day, and each November Mischler pledges a percentage of the entire month’s profits to carefully-vetted charitable organizations that support veterans and their families in recognition of this national holiday.

To honor Veterans Day Month 2016, Mischler Financial Group has made a financial pledge to three separate organizations that go above and beyond the call of duty to support military veteran families and local communities. Those 501c3 organizations are Bob Woodruff Foundation, The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund and Buildon.org.

Stated Dean Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Mischler Financial, a 20-year veteran of the securities industry and a U.S. Military Academy at West Point alumni, “There are now more than 20 million Americans who have served with integrity and honor in the US Armed Forces, yet when transitioning back to civilian roles, too many are encountering challenges as they seek higher ground. The Mischler Financial year-round philanthropic mission is dedicated to the military veteran community at large, and Veterans Day Month provides a special opportunity for our trading desk and our clients to work together to give back and pay forward to the veteran community in ways that can truly help change lives for the better.”

Added Chamberlain, “This past May, we made our Memorial Day Month pledge to crowdfund campaign Veterans Education Challenge,  as we believe that advanced education is a core component to both personal and professional success. The organizations that we have pledged our Veterans Day Month support to provide equally unique runways by which veterans can further bolster their knowledge base and self-confidence, and in turn, help them to more easily target and capture opportunities as they advance forward.”

 

bob-woodruff-foundation-veterans-day-mischlerAbout The Bob Woodruff Foundation (501c3)

Mission Statement: Founded in 2006 by ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff and his wife Lee after Bob was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. The Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the merging and long-term needs of today’s veterans. To date, BWF has invested more than $33 million to find, fund and shape programs that have empowered more than 2.5 million impacted veterans, service members and their families. To learn more, visit their website

johnny-mac-soldiers-fund-mischler-brokerdealerAbout The Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund (501c3)

Mission Statement: Committed to providing support to those most affected by the Global War on Terror. Assistance includes: College scholarships and grants; Financial aid for professional certification programs and non-degree programs; Educational career counseling and mentorship. To learn more, visit their website.

                          

 

buildon org veterans day pledge mischler broker-dealerAbout Buildon.org (501c3)

Mission Statement: To break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service learning programs in many of America’s most under-resourced high schools. Buildon.org is dedicated to engaging and training high school students in the country’s most challenging urban areas by providing those students with the tools to proactively advance programs that can better the quality of life for members of their communities who are in need. To learn more, visit their website.

                        

mischler-veterans-day-pledge-brokerdealerAbout Mischler Financial Group Inc.

Established in 1994, Mischler Financial Group, Inc. (“Mischler”) was the first broker-dealer certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE).Since that time, Mischler has become widely-recognized by Fortune corporate treasurers, public pension sponsors and the industry’s leading institutional investment managers for “punching above its weight class” while serving as a boutique investment bank and conflict-free institutional brokerage. Mischler is unique among its peers for its capital markets capabilities, as well as the firm’s year-round advocacy and support of veteran-centric causes. Mischler maintains offices in 8 major cities and is staffed by more than 55 securities industry veterans whose expertise extends across virtually all primary and secondary debt and equity capital market silos. In addition to traditional DCM and ECM services and secondary market best execution, Mischler administers corporate share repurchase programs for leading Fortune companies, cash management for government entities and corporations, and asset management programs for liquid and alternative investment strategies. The firm’s website is www.mischlerfinancial.com

For Additional Information:

Attn: Office of the Chief Executive

Email: [email protected]

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