The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) published a news release on their website, May 22, 2012, announcing that it has fined Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. $3.5 million.  This fine was for 'providing inaccurate mortgage performance information, supervisory failures and other violations in connection with subprime residential mortgage-backed securitizations (RMBS).' FINRA notes in their article that the issuers of RMBS […]

As of today, Facebook (FB) shares have fallen roughly 18.4 percent from their $38 IPO price, within the first three days of trading, reducing the value of stock sold in the IPO by more than $2.9 billion. It was announced that Facebook, Inc., Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg, and the banks, including Morgan Stanley, are being sued by shareholders,  […]

Patel v. Balchandani, FINRA ID # 11-00973 (Louisville, KY, 5/4/2012) - A FINRA Arbitration Panel awarded approximately $1 million, including $200,000 in punitive damages, to a pair of customers who alleged a churning scheme targeting Indian-Americans. The following is part of the "Case Summary" that was presented on FINRA's website: "Claimants asserted the following causes […]

The following information is from FINRA’s website under, “Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions, May, 2012.” Paul Andrew Fischetti (CRD #2300161, Registered Supervisor, Palm Harbor, Florida)   submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for six months. The […]

John Brian Busacca III (CRD #2302780, Registered Principal, Orlando, Florida) was fined $30,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any principal capacity for six months. The SEC sustained the sanctions following appeal of a NAC decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals denied Busacca’s petition for review.   The sanctions were based on […]

Today, in a Wall Street Journal article, Craig Karmin writes that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is currently investigating an $11 billion real-estate company for potential violations of federal securities laws, looking at the business of real estate investment trusts that aren't traded on exchanges. They are looking at the activity of Inland American Real Estate Trust to […]

This past Tuesday, May 1st., FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. fined four major brokerages $9.1 million for selling complex ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) to investors whose portfolios were otherwise conservative.  Without admitting or denying the charges, the brokerges will be paying $7.3 million in fines, and $1.8 million in restitution to the clients who […]

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, recently awarded the following settlements in arbitrations:     Robinson v. Schmerman, FINRA ID # 12-00389 (Phoenix, AZ, 4/18/2012) - A sole Arbitrator, in a bifurcated Rule 12801 default proceeding, holds a broker who allegedly failed to follow instructions liable to a customer for $538,400, including $100,000 in punitive damages. […]

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., also known as FINRA, plans to raise number of user fees it charges broker-dealers to help cover a "significant loss" from last year, said chief executive Richard Ketchum in an InvestmentNews article by Dan Jamieson, from April 24th., 2012. "The broader economic downturn continues to affect trading volumes and industry […]