Search Results for agency_names:"Investment Company Act Release No. 35487

The Department of Justice and the State of California have reached a proposed agreement, called a Consent Decree, regarding environmental pollution at the Montrose Chemical Corp. Superfund Site in Los Angeles County. This agreement involves companies like TFCF America, Inc., and Bayer CropScience Inc., who will carry out environmental cleanup efforts, including thermal treatment and soil vapor extraction. They will also cover certain past and future government costs related to the site. The public can comment on this proposal within 30 days of its announcement.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the filing by BOX Exchange LLC of a rule change to allow options trading on two Bitcoin funds: the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund and the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF. These changes involve amendments to certain rules regarding position limits and criteria for underlying securities, similar to recent approvals granted to Cboe Exchange. The Exchange emphasizes the potential benefits for investors, such as improved market efficiency and transparency, and asserts that its existing surveillance measures are sufficient to ensure fair trading and detect any manipulative practices. The proposed rule change is expected to enhance competition and offer investors a new, priced-efficient way to access Bitcoin-related securities.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking for public comments about proposed information requests aimed at large Single-Family Rental (SFR) owner operators, known as mega investors, who own over 1,000 rental properties. These requests are intended to help the FTC study the impact of such large investors on housing competition, prices, and their influence on local markets. The FTC plans to gather data about these companies' business models, property holdings, and pricing strategies, with the goal of increasing market transparency and possibly informing future regulatory actions. Public comments will be considered before the FTC requests approval from the Office of Management and Budget to proceed with this data collection.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule exempting certain records in its newly established system, DOE-42 Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs Files, from specific provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974. These exemptions are applied to protect investigatory materials used for law enforcement purposes, safeguarding against unauthorized access to sensitive data related to federal civil rights compliance investigations. The DOE addressed public comments on the rule and justified the need for exemptions to enhance the confidentiality and integrity of law enforcement processes while ensuring fairness and due process. The rule becomes effective on January 16, 2025.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that NYSE Arca, Inc. filed a proposed rule change to modify its options fee schedule. This change increases the fee for manual executions by NYSE Arca Market Makers from $0.35 to $0.50 per contract. The adjustment aims to align NYSE Arca’s fees with those of at least one competing exchange. The market is highly competitive, with no single exchange gaining considerable pricing power, so this change is not expected to impose any undue competitive burden.

On December 9, 2024, the Department of Justice proposed a Consent Decree to settle a lawsuit against Diesel Performance Parts, Inc. for violating the Clean Air Act by selling parts that disable vehicle emission controls. The settlement bans the company and its owner from engaging in activities related to these illegal parts and requires them to destroy remaining inventory, give up related intellectual property, and pay a $320,000 fine. The public can comment on this proposed agreement within 30 days of its announcement. If interested, the full decree is available for review on the Justice Department's website.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a proposed consent order with Mobilewalla Inc., a data broker accused of unlawfully collecting and selling consumers' sensitive location information without obtaining proper consent. The company allegedly violated multiple parts of the FTC Act by collecting and retaining precise location data and targeting consumers based on characteristics revealed by their location history, such as religion or medical conditions. The proposed order aims to restrict Mobilewalla's future data practices, mandating they verify consumer consent and avoid retaining sensitive data indefinitely. The public is invited to comment on this order until January 6, 2025, before the FTC makes a final decision.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) has proposed a new rule to update fees under FINRA Rule 6897 related to the National Market System Plan's Consolidated Audit Trail for 2025. The updated fee, termed "CAT Fee 2025-1," will be $0.000022 per executed equivalent share. This fee adjustment aims to cover approximately half of the planned costs for 2025 and will replace the existing fee rate of $0.000035. The rule change is effective immediately and seeks public comments on its consistency with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a proposed rule change from MIAX PEARL, LLC, to allow trading options on three Ethereum-related funds: the Grayscale Ethereum Trust, the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust, and the Bitwise Ethereum ETF. This proposal comes as a response to similar competitive offerings approved by the NYSE American. MIAX Pearl argues that these changes will offer investors a lower-cost tool for managing risks and gaining exposure to Ethereum prices. The SEC aims to ensure this new trading option is in line with its rules designed to prevent fraud and maintain fair trading practices.

The document is an annual report on actions taken under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act by the U.S. to address serious human rights abuses and corruption worldwide. It highlights the designation of 243 foreign individuals and entities involved in such activities, leading to the blocking of their U.S.-based assets and imposing economic sanctions. Key targets included officials from China, South Sudan, Uganda, and Russia, among others, who have been identified for severe human rights violations or corrupt practices. The report also details efforts to collaborate with other countries, like the UK and EU, in adopting similar sanctions measures.