Washington

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts presented its 29th annual industry awards during its annual conference dinner in San Diego earlier this month.

The House is likely to vote Friday on legislation that would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of any new regulations, a move Democrats see as a bid to weaken financial reform.

Reps. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., and Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, have sent a letter to new Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Mary Jo White urging her to make sure that the SEC's final definition of municipal advisor reflects their bill, which is pending before the House Financial Services Committee.

The SEC's fraudulent-disclosure charge against Harrisburg, Pa., has larger implications for secondary market disclosures, legal experts assert.

Ohio Auditor David Yost warned local governments to tread carefully when talking about their financial conditions, calling this week's SEC charges against Harrisburg, Pa. a "watershed moment" for local politicians.

The SEC's fraud accusations against Harrisburg, Pa., could be a deterrent, some market observers say, even if the city appeared to suffer little from the action.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts presented Excellence in Disclosure awards to four issuers at a dinner at its annual conference in San Diego May 2.

Critics say the Securities and Exchange Commission should dig well beyond its cease-and-desist order in its Harrisburg, Pa., securities fraud case.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's revised suitability rule should include dealer obligations to sophisticated municipal market professionals and suitability requirements for 529 college savings plans, according to comments received by the MSRB Monday.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's EMMA website will now display both the initial offering dollar price and yield for a bond, when available, the MSRB announced today.