On February 9th, the SEC announced that it is proposing new rules and amendments intended to protect investors by reducing risks in the clearance and settlement of securities. The revisions would increase operational efficacy by shortening time between the execution of securities transaction and its settlement. The proposed rule would decrease the standard settlement cycle for the majority of broker-dealer transactions from two business days after the trade date (“T+2”) to one business day after the trade date (“T+1”).

On January 31th, the SEC issued its annual Staff Report on Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs), as required by Section 6 of the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006 and Section 15E(p)(3)(C) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.