Regulation

More changes in Securities and Exchange Commission leadership, which announced the appointment of a new senior advisor to the director in its division of investment management.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission defeated a federal court challenge to a rule requiring mutual funds with commodities investments to register with the agency.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is turning over its leadership with the departure of yet another high-ranking official.

JPMorgan Chase CEO said the U.S. economy would thrive next year if lawmakers reach an agreement to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of spending cuts and tax increases.

More than 150 chief executive officers, including JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s Lloyd Blankfein, called on President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner to compromise on a budget deal that would include new tax revenue and spending cuts.

The news media is breathlessly counting down the days until the arrival of the fiscal cliff on December 31. It may make for good television (tune in tomorrow) but it’s not good economic (or good political analysis.) Here’s why:

The rule has been the most common ground for disciplinary action so far this year, according to an analysis by the law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.

The SEC has pulled from within its ranks, tapping Jennifer B. McHugh as senior advisor to the director in its division of investment management.

Looks like eight Tennessee-based mutual fund directors bent the rules too far.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has initiated cease-and-desist proceedings against the former board members of five registered investment firms, alleging that they failed to maintain appropriate fair-market valuations of debt securities that comprised a substantial portion of the companies' portfolio.