Our experts frequently write blog posts about the findings of the research we are conducting.
SEC Press Release: Mortgage Backed Securities
"Wells Fargo Securities LLC [had] agreed to settle charges that Wachovia Capital Markets LLC engaged in misconduct in the sale of two collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) tied to the performance of residential mortgage-backed securities as the U.S. housing market was beginning to show signs of distress...
FINRA Press Release: Improper Marketing
"it has ordered Charles Schwab & Company, Inc., to pay $18 million into a Fair Fund to be established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to repay investors in YieldPlus, an ultra short-term bond fund managed by Schwab's affiliate, Charles Schwab Investment Management. The $18...
SEC Press Release: Municipal Bond Fund
"charged two former portfolio managers with defrauding a mutual fund that invests primarily in municipal bonds issued by the State of Utah and its county and local authorities."
FINRA Press Release: Excessive Mark-Ups
"it has expelled APS Financial Corporation, located in Austin, Texas, barred the firm's former President, George Conwill, and barred Peter Aman, a former broker at the firm, in a scheme which overcharged an elderly investor by $1.2 million."
SEC Press Release: Banc of America Bid Rigging
"BAS has agreed to pay over $36 million, together with...
FINRA Press Release: Disclosure of Wells Notices
"it has fined Goldman, Sachs & Co. $650,000 for failing to disclose that two of its registered representatives, including Fabrice Tourre, had received formal notices from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that they were the subjects of investigations. Tourre's "Wells Notice" was issued in connection with the...
FINRA Press Release: Reverse Convertibles
FINRA Press Release: Inverse Floating Rate CMOs
"it has fined HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. $375,000 for recommending unsuitable sales of inverse floating rate Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs) to retail customers. HSBC failed to adequately supervise the suitability of the CMO sales and fully explain the...
FINRA Press Release: Unit Investment Trusts
it has fined Merrill Lynch $500,000 for failing to provide sales charge discounts to customers on eligible purchases of Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). FINRA also found that Merrill Lynch failed to have an adequate supervisory system in place to ensure customers received appropriate UIT discounts....
FINRA Press Release: Subprime Securitizations