In this issue:

- SEC Chair Directs Staff to Review Commission Rule Excluding Conflicting Proxy Proposals

- SEC Comments on FINRA's Proposed Rule Amendment to Increase Pricing Disclosure

- CFTC Grants Order of Registration to Tokyo Commodity Exchange

- NFA Increases Minimum Security Deposits for Forex Transactions

- Tenth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Securities Class Action for Failing to Plead Scienter Under the PSLRA

- Federal Prosecutors Charge Canadian Trader in "Layering" Scheme

- OCC Issues New Comptroller's Handbook Sections Relating to Securities Compliance, Litigation and Conflicts of Interest

- CFPB Finalizes Minor Changes to "Know Before You Owe" Mortgage Rules

- HSR Act Thresholds to Rise on February 20

- ESMA and Hong Kong SFC Agree MoU for Covered CCP Supervision

- Excerpt from SEC Chair Directs Staff to Review Commission Rule Excluding Conflicting Proxy Proposals:

On January 16, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White announced that she has directed the SEC’s staff (Staff) to review Rule 14a-8(i)(9) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which allows an issuer to exclude a shareholder proposal that “directly conflicts” with one of the issuer’s own proposals. Chair White’s directive is a result of uncertainty created by the Staff’s no-action letter issued to Whole Foods Market, Inc...