On May 12, 2020, the SEC announced Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) agreed to a $5 million penalty to settle charges that the firm provided misleading information to clients in its retail wrap fee programs regarding trade execution services and transaction costs.
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SEC Orders Three Self-Reporting Advisory Firms to Reimburse Investors over Improper Share Class Selection Disclosure
On April 17, 2020, the SEC announced it has settled charges against three firms that self-reported as part of the Division of Enforcement’s Share Class Selection Disclosure Initiative. The SEC’s orders found Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (MLPFS) and Eagle
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SEC Charges California Trader for Manipulative Trading Scheme Involving COVID-19 Claims
On June 9, 2020, the SEC charged a penny stock trader in California with conducting a pump-and-dump scheme using the stock of a biotech company. According to the complaint, the trader attempted to drive up the stock price of Arrayit Corporation by
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Municipal Advisors Granted Relief under SEC’s Temporary Conditional Exemption
On June 16, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced a Temporary Conditional Exemption for municipal advisors (MAs), which provides an exemption from certain broker registration requirements under Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This order is in response
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