Regulation

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined Banorte Securities International $1.1 million for improper sales of B shares of offshore mutual funds, as well as inadequate supervisory systems to monitor the sales.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced the second annual CCOutreach BD National Seminar will be held on March 10, 2009.

Nine former and current traders with Fidelity Investments have reached preliminary settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly receiving more than $1.6 million worth of lavish gifts from brokerages seeking business from Fidelity between 2002 and 2004.

As the mutual fund industry approaches the first anniversary of the compliance date for SEC Rule 22c-2, it's an ideal time for a retrospective on the services, systems and processes in place to comply with the data-sharing components of the rule.

NEW YORK - In the wake of the ongoing credit crisis and illiquid money market, much of it due to the failure of a single money market mutual fund, the Securities and Exchange Commission plans to overhaul Rule 2-a7. Separately, the Department of the Treasury is looking into creating a market stability regulator with omniscient powers across the "entire financial system."

NEW YORK - As credit freezes up and liquidity all but vanishes, there is an enormous temptation for financial institutions and investors to hold on to their cash and brace for the worst.

New Hampshire regulators have fined a now-defunct mortgage company, First Call Mortage, in which Peter Lynch of Fidelity fame had a 13% stake, The Wall Street Journal reports. As such, Lynch faces an $85,000 fine, and First Call, $767,500.

With just $6 billion in assets left, of what once totaled $83 billion, Reserve Management is liquidating its 18 remaining funds.

The U.S. Justice Department has subpoenaed several large firms and agencies as part of an investigation to determine whether Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. misled investors before its Sept. 15 bankruptcy filing, according to the Stamford Advocate.

Despite a stable economic outlook for the foreseeable future, many Canadians are concerned that their government isn’t doing enough to prepare itself for the kind of downturn the rest of the world is experiencing, writes the National Post.