Washington

Broker-dealer firms can do more to manage conflicts of interest in their businesses, including by taking steps to deal more transparently with retail investors, according to a report published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Regulators warned brokers at a Bond Dealers of America conference not to play loose with municipal securities rules, and asked them to report competitors they suspect.

Non-dealer municipal advisors are unsure which employees at their firms must register as MAs under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new rule, and want further guidance from both the SEC and Municipal Securities Rulemaking board about how their businesses will be affected by the rule.

Leaders of financial groups and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew warned Thursday that brinkmanship over the debt limit is already hurting the financial markets and that a default would have catastrophic impacts domestically and globally, making it harder to deal with long-term U.S. debt issues.

Municipal issuers took an average of 202 calendar days after the end of their fiscal years to disclose audited financial statements, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board found in its first ever report on the timing of disclosures.

Dealer groups are urging the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board to use restraint in developing a best execution rule for the municipal market, warning that a "trade-by-trade" mandate is not feasible and pushing for their own alternative standard.

St. Louis-based broker-dealer L.J. Hart & Co. was censured and paid a $200,000 fine to settle FINRA charges that it improperly gave more than $183,000 in sports tickets to issuer clients

A federal judge has issued an order for mediation between the City of Miami, Fla. and the Securities and Exchange Commission, a step the SEC said is required for its securities fraud case against the city and its former budget director.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has withdrawn its proposal to loosen the standard of independence for public board members, citing "unexpected opposition."

Broker-dealer practices may change under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new municipal advisor registration rule, as the rule encourages firms to establish underwriting relationships with issuers early in order to be exempt from registration.