Regulation

Apex Clearing, a subsidiary of Apex Fintech Solutions, stood accused of misleading investors into believing they would receive compensation for lending out their brokerage holdings.

Regulators can still conduct informal investigations but need higher-up permission to issue subpoenas for testimony or documents.

With Gary Gensler's "Wild West" in the rearview mirror, a less combative approach to cryptocurrency looks likely to boost product innovation and investor adoption.

Midsize firm Arete Wealth is invoking President Trump's executive order on government "weaponization" in urging the new administration to withdraw the case.

The industry self-regulator is also concerned about third-party vendors, anti-money-laundering policies and whether certain annuity products are in clients' best interests.

Hester Peirce and SEC Acting Chair Mark Uyeda say they want to group to devise a clear compliance framework for digital assets and end regulation by enforcement.

The avalanche of cases announced Friday included charges against a no-longer registered advisor and firm accused of misappropriating more than $20 million from clients.

Regulators took the wirehouses to task for not having policies directing advisors to consider clients' best interests.

The Malvern, Pennsylvania-based asset manager was dinged by the SEC, which said it made misleading statements to some retirement savers.

The case reflects the extent of industry efforts — and failures to enforce — guidelines such as customer identification programs.