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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a notice regarding an application for an order under the Investment Company Act. The application seeks permission for certain business development companies and closed-end management investment companies to engage in joint investments with affiliated investment entities, which would otherwise be restricted by the Act. The applicants involve a large number of entities connected to BlackRock, requesting the SEC to allow them to co-invest in various portfolio companies. The notice also provides procedural details for requesting a hearing on the matter, if interested parties, by emailing the SEC and providing proof of service to the applicants.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing non-substantive rules proposed by MIAX PEARL, LLC. These proposed changes are intended to clarify and update outdated rules in MIAX Pearl's Rulebook. Key changes include correcting the way certain information is announced, removing references to obsolete mini-options, and updating regulatory citations. The Commission is inviting comments from the public and has allowed these rule changes to be effective immediately, as they do not significantly impact investor protection or market competition.

The Postal Service has announced a request to the Postal Regulatory Commission to include a new domestic shipping contract in their list of Negotiated Service Agreements. This contract will be added to the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List. The request was filed on November 27, 2024, and interested parties can find related documents on the commission's website. For any questions, Sean Robinson is the contact person.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that the Miami International Securities Exchange is proposing a change to its rules that would allow the listing and trading of options on Commodity-Based Trust Shares. These trust shares represent interests in a trust that holds specific commodities and sometimes cash, similar to how some ETFs work. The purpose of the change is to make it easier and faster to list options on these trust shares once they have met initial criteria without needing further approvals. This proposal is part of a competitive effort alongside other exchanges like Nasdaq, NYSE, and Cboe, and aims to increase investment options for market participants while promoting competition and consistency in the rules for trading such options.

Nasdaq PHLX LLC filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission to remove rules associated with options on the Nasdaq-100® Volatility Index (VOLQ). These options were delisted in May 2023, and currently, there is no activity or plan to relist them. The purpose of this change is to simplify the rules for Phlx members, member organizations, and the public by eliminating outdated references. This proposal is not expected to impact competition since no trading of VOLQ options occurs on the market today.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a notice about granting requests for early termination of the waiting period required under premerger notification rules. This process is part of the FTC's oversight of company mergers to ensure they do not lessen market competition. The contact for more information is Theresa Kingsberry at the FTC's Premerger Notification Office.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has shared a proposed rule change by NYSE Arca, Inc. to alter the limits for options on the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). Specifically, it aims to increase the position and exercise limits from 25,000 to 250,000 contracts, and to allow GBTC options to trade as Flexible Exchange Options (FLEX Options). The proposal is intended to boost market activity by enabling larger trades, improve competition against over-the-counter markets, and offer new trading tools similar to existing options on ETFs like gold and silver shares. The Commission is inviting public comments on this proposed change.

The New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) has submitted a proposed rule change to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend the fee waiver for new bonds trading license applications and to eliminate the bond trading license fee for 2025. This proposal was filed on December 19, 2024, and is effective immediately. The SEC is inviting the public to send their comments regarding this proposed rule change by January 27, 2025. Submissions should reference file number SR-NYSE-2024-83 for proper processing.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that MIAX Emerald, LLC, plans to introduce a new fee for accessing its testing systems environment through a dedicated cross connection. Previously, users could access this environment, which allows testing of exchange functionality, for free via a VPN or by other means that are being phased out. Starting December 1, 2024, a monthly fee of $1,000 will be charged for this dedicated connection option, but VPN access will remain free. The fee structure aims to reflect competition in the market and is designed to offer equitable pricing compared to similar services provided by other exchanges.

In a notice published by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the MIAX PEARL, LLC proposed a change to its rules to allow the listing and trading of options on the iShares Ethereum Trust. This change is intended to give investors a more cost-effective way to invest in Ether, a type of cryptocurrency, without directly owning it. The rule change aligns with similar approvals from other exchanges and aims to enhance the tools available to investors for managing their investment portfolios. The proposal has been filed to encourage comments from the public and does not impose significant burdens on competition or investor protection.