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Posts Tagged ‘Amerivet Securities v FINRA’

FINRA’s Enforcement Chief, Susan Merrill, Quits; How About a Subpoena?

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 18th, 2010 10:52 AM |

Will Susan Merrill provide America with a window into the scams perpetrated by Wall Street on the American investing public? Who is Susan Merrill? Let’s navigate.

Those charged with protecting the public interest must be held to an appropriate standard. In order to promote public trust, these organizations and their executives must be held to account. If need be, that accounting should include legal discovery and, if warranted, a subpoena as well.

Susan Merrill, the head of enforcement of Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization, FINRA, is stepping down after having occupied this role for three years. Think she knows some things that the American public would like to know? No doubt.

In fact, in my opinion, Ms. Merrill most likely has a wealth of information that American investors (those she was charged to protect) and the American public at large DESERVE to know. (more…)

Tags: Amerivet Securities v FINRA, auction rate securities cases, Barney Frank, Benchmark Financial vs FINRA, Congressional inquiry into FINRA, Darrell Issa, Davis Polk Wardwell, FINRA, FINRA liquidation of auction-rate securities, FINRA oversight of Lehman Brothers, FINRA should protect investors, FINRA's Susan merrill to Exit as Enforcement Chief, lawsuits against FINRA, Mary Schapiro, merger of NASD and NYSE Regulation, paul Kanjorski, Standard Investment Chartered vs FINRA, Susan Merrill, Susan Merrill quits, Susan Merrill Wall Street Journal March 18 2010, Susan Merrill's career, Thomas Weisel auction rate securities, transparency on Wall Street, Wall Street oversight, WSJ Merrill March 18 2010
Posted in FINRA, General | 9 Comments »

Dick Fuld Unaware of Lehman’s ‘Cooking the Books’? STOP IT!!

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 13th, 2010 2:34 PM |

Given the global interest in this story, I am bumping it up from the original posting on 3/12/2010. LD

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Former Lehman Bros. CEO, Dick Fuld

Reports that Lehman was effectively ‘cooking its books’ prior to its ultimate demise are not a surprise.

Reports that Dick Fuld, then CEO of Lehman, was not aware of the nature of this cooking are both ridiculous and pathetic.

The lifeblood of every financial institution on Wall Street is access to financing for its operations. That financing very often comes in the form of repurchase agreements (repo financing), in which the institution borrows funds while pledging assets. These short term loans, often overnight loans, are unwound at a preset date and preset prices. The rates borrowers have to pay for funds borrowed depend on the credit quality of the borrower itself and the quality of the assets pledged. (more…)

Tags: Amerivet Securities v FINRA, Anton Valukas, Bart McDade, Dick Fuld, Dick Fuld's career, FINRA, Fuld 'Negligent' as Lehman Hid Leverage, Herbert 'Bart' McDade, Lehman Bros, Lehman Bros. balance sheet, Lehman cooking its books, Lehman manipulated its books, Lehman's auditors Ernst and Young, Lehman's financials, Lehman's leverage, NASD, off balance sheet transactions, Repo 105, repo financing
Posted in General, Lehman | 13 Comments »

Harry Markopolos: “Don’t Trust Your Government”

Posted by Larry Doyle on March 1st, 2010 10:38 AM |

Harry Markopolos

In an interview on the Today show this morning (video clip after the fold), Harry Markopolos dropped a few bombshells. Harry’s statement that he had purchased a gun and mentally prepared himself to kill Bernie Madoff in self-defense if need be will likely grab the most attention. It shouldn’t.

Markopolos’ biggest bombshell this morning is his warning to America, “don’t trust your government.” No surprise that Today host Matt Lauer did not probe deeper. I am not confident that other outlets will delve deeper into Harry’s statement, either. I wonder why Harry himself is reticent to specifically point out the individuals and the instances which lead him to make that statement.

Recall that a year ago Harry defined the SEC as merely incompetent while simultaneously defining FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) as ‘in bed with the industry’ that is Wall Street. Well, it does not take an advanced degree to connect Harry’s grenade toss into FINRA’s backyard a year ago with his volley this morning. (more…)

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Posted in Bernie Madoff, FINRA, General, Harry Markopolos, Madoff, Mary Schapiro, regulation, SEC | 20 Comments »

Financial Regulatory Reform Overlooks the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

Posted by Larry Doyle on December 13th, 2009 11:36 AM |

Only in Washington could the promotion and passage of a piece of legislation known as Financial Regulatory Reform overlook the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

How could this happen? What does it mean? Why haven’t legislators and large parts of the media questioned this reality?

I am not saying that there are not significant elements of the reform bill passed by Congress that are not necessary. But I am questioning how and why a piece of legislation that strikes at the core of the financial industry can possibly wind its way through Congress without ever addressing FINRA, the entity charged with overseeing Wall Street and protecting investors.

Our country not only needs effective and strong financial regulatory practices but, much more importantly, our country needs effective and strong financial regulatory practitioners.

Let’s return to my questions. How could this happen? What does it mean? Why haven’t legislators and large parts of the media questioned this reality?

The fact is, Congress intentionally overlooks the ineffective practitioners of financial regulation because it would expose the extensive incest amidst the financial industry, the regulatory authority, and Washington.

If Washington truly wanted to inspire confidence in financial regulatory reform and send a strong message to America that it is seriously motivated to clean up Wall Street, our leaders would publicly support the lawsuits pending against FINRA.

Regular readers of Sense on Cents know the particulars of these lawsuits well. For newer readers, I am referring to the following: (more…)

Tags: Amerivet Securities v FINRA, Financial Regulatory Authority FINRA, financial regulatory reform, lawsuits against FINRA, Mary Schapiro, NASD, Richard Greenfield, Standard Investment Chartered v FINRA
Posted in FINRA, General | 2 Comments »