The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it’s “unclear” whether a new batch of 3× and 5× leveraged ETFs will get the green light. Under Rule 18f-4 the Derivatives Rule fund leverage is generally capped at 2×. Translation: Wall Street wants to push the gas pedal through the floor, and the SEC is hunting […]
Leveraged ETF Mania: When 2× Isn’t Enough for Wall Street Read More »
Wall Street loves efficiency. But even the fastest HFT desks would blush at a 12-second trade that netted millions. That’s what two brothers allegedly pulled off on Ethereum front running blockchain transactions before anyone else could blink. Here’s the part that should make you laugh or cry. Their lawyers say it’s not even fraud. Why?
The 12-Second Heist That Proves Crypto Is Still the Wild West Read More »
After two sluggish years, Wall Street is back in deal mode. Investment bankers are smiling again, and M&A desks that collected dust in 2023 are humming with new mandates. Rebounding is not a miracle. It involves momentum and math. The Fed hinted at rate decreases, inflation fell more quickly than anticipated, and business confidence rebounded.
Why Wall Street Deal Volumes Are Surging (Again) Read More »
The latest action by the SEC? A good slumber at the right time. Thanks to the government shutdown, the agency is running on a skeleton crew but the markets, as usual, didn’t get the memo or don’t care.Section 8(a) now allows IPOs to take effect automatically after 20 days. Translation: Before the SEC even finishes
SEC Goes on Vacation and Markets Keep Filing Anyway Read More »
It appears that the markets needed a bit more southern hospitality, which is why the SEC just approved the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE). By the time trading begins in 2026, Wall Street may want to start perspiring. Supported by Citadel and BlackRock, TXSE markets itself as the “business-friendly” substitute for the NYSE and Nasdaq. In other words, investor decks will use a lot more analogies related to BBQ, have less regulations, and have lower listing fees. The Positive: The old exchanges may finally be forced to quit charging like it is 1999 if listings get cheaper. Startups and mid cap companies may have a genuine chance to go public without having to sacrifice everything for compliance expenditures. Two listings? Be prepared for a new kind of financial “two-stepping.” The Bad: TXSE’s rules would not even be met by about 35% of publicly traded corporations in the United States. Dallas’s 95 degree temperature will not cause liquidity to appear. The NYSE and Nasdaq are already circling Texas like coyotes at a barbecue, so they are not going quietly. In conclusion, TXSE may ultimately introduce “You all Street” or simply demonstrate that it is possible to put cowboy boots on an exchange and still trip over liquidity.
Texas Stock Exchange Gets SEC Approval: Welcome to “Y’all Street” Read More »
Nasdaq just filed to trade tokenized securities on its main exchange because apparently, someone in compliance said “what if we made this even more complicated?
Nasdaq Wants to Tokenize Wall Street. What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Read More »
In 2025, the real market threat isn’t inflation or interest rates, it’s your IT vendor’s intern forgetting to update a password. Cloud service providers, “strategic partners,” and generative AI have become more than just catchphrases. Data leaks, supply chain chaos, AI model failure, and vendor dependence are now the top exposures ranked by banks and asset managers. Translation: It is likely that someone else’s server room will be the scene of your next problem. The panic has been detected by regulators. Enforcement, audits, and “show-us-your-controls” emails are on the horizon. Businesses are investing heavily in compliance through AI governance committees, third-party risk dashboards, strengthened contracts, and bulked-up audits (since nothing says “safety” like another committee). The takeaway is straightforward: these are no longer unique dangers. PowerPoint risk frameworks are insufficient for CEOs, CROs, and CCOs to hide behind. Congratulations! You are already the case study if you are delaying updating controls until after the breach.
AI, third parties & cyber are the top 2025 compliance stressors Read More »
A $10,000 fine and suspension were imposed by FINRA three months after the agency discovered a Texas broker working as a real estate tycoon.The broker operated a real estate company that bought, sold, and leased houses, but they neglected to inform their firm. That is an issue in accordance with FINRA Rule 3270. Brokers must
Texas Broker Suspended Over Unapproved Real Estate Business Read More »
Here we are, folks. The government shuts down, and the Securities and Exchange Commission proves once again that it’s really just another federal agency in a suit. More than 90% of staff furloughed. Enforcement? Paused. IPO approvals? On ice. ETF filings? Collecting dust in inboxes no one’s checking. This is bad news for issuers, investors, and anybody else who expected the SEC to provide timely guidance. Unless, of course, you are looking for “emergency functions,” which is a slang term for “we will act after it is late.” The irony? Markets never close. Scammers continue to con, businesses continue to raise money, and Wall Street continues to trade. However, the beat’s lead police officer just posted a “be back later” sign on the door. The fraudsters must be ecstatic.
Another day, another Robinhood penalty. Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities were recently ordered by FINRA to pay $26 million in fines and $3.75 million in restitution. The fees? Weak anti-money laundering systems, inadequate supervisory supervision, and false statements regarding their alleged “collaring” of customer market orders comprise this best hits compilation of compliance errors.The irony
