Pennsylvania + Wall

 By Ira Hammerman  

Conducting a comprehensive review of the equity market structure, enhancing fixed income markets and improving enforcement techniques are all priorities for the Securities and Exchange Commission this year, noted chair Mary Jo White in remarks to financial professionals at SIFMA's Annual Meeting. 

"The markets are the strongest and most reliable in the world," White said, "but that doesn't mean they can't be optimized. I stand for robust and resilient markets." 

Another high-level goal for the commission includes producing a system that increases disclosure effectiveness, and in turn is more useful to investors. Chair White acknowledged that technology should also work for the investor to increase pre-trade transparency and continually lower transaction costs. .... Read more...

By Leslie Norwood 

America is built with bonds. 

According to the National League of Cities, three-quarters of all U.S. investment in infrastructure is accomplished with tax-exempt bonds. In the decade spanning 2003 and 2012, a total of about $3.2 trillion in infrastructure investment was secured through long-term municipal bonds, reports the National Association of Counties. Those investments made thousands of roads, bridges, airports, intercoastal waterways, dams, and water systems a reality for Americans across the country. 

The impressive size of this market demands that financial experts lend it careful consideration. At this year's SIFMA Annual Meeting, a panel of market and regulatory leaders came together to assess where the bond market stands, how it can be improved, and why this is one of the most important discussions in finance today. .... Read more...

By Matt Nevins

 David Rubenstein knows how to make money. After all, it's his job. 

As co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager, Rubenstein helps clients invest more than $203 billion in total assets across 129 distinct funds, 11 industries and six continents. 

Having a hand in so many finances and industries, Rubenstein can identify signals in his work that reflect trends in the overall state of the economy - and the U.S. comes on top. 

"The U.S. economy is in reasonably good shape, with three percent growth this year," Rubenstein said at SIFMA's Annual Meeting. "Compared to Europe, we're in excellent shape. Inflation is under control and I don't think we'll see increases in interest rates." 

The world's most promising emerging markets .... Read more...

By Project Invested

The capital markets aren't only about ensuring returns for individual investors. 

In fact, the role that they play in making sure that American companies achieve their goals has never been more important. 

At this year's SIFMA Annual Meeting, a distinguished panel of commercial company chief financial officers and treasurers took the stage to discuss why market activity is so important to their organizations' missions. 

A stable market helps established corporations succeed..... Read more...

By Tim Cameron

The advent of new regulations marks a key moment in the asset management industry. 

But what are those on the front lines of investing actually thinking? 

As an assortment of senior buy-side leaders shared during this year's SIFMA Annual Meeting, the thinking goes beyond industry-specific issues like market structure and liquidity, and affects every aspect of financial management. 

Assessing the new financial landscape  .... Read more...

By Randy Snook

 The world of capital markets is changing. 

At SIFMA's Annual Meeting, a group of the world's most influential thinkers in the financial services industry came together to discuss the progress made to date, and identify the challenges that lie ahead. 

"There is a need for constant evolution of processes and goals," said Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., SIFMA President and CEO. 

SIFMA's membership represents 80 percent of broker-dealer clients' assets under management, nearly 75 percent of U.S. financial advisors, and 50 percent of RIA assets under management. 

"That's a sizeable footprint," Bentsen said. "This broad collaboration across the membership enables SIFMA to speak authoritatively on a wide range of issues affecting retail and institutional capital markets." 

Critical contributions to economic recovery .... Read more...

By: Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.

 Kenneth E Bentsen, the head of one of the industry's largest trade associations says international regulatory bodies need to do more to ensure coordination between national regulators on the construction and timetable of rulebooks for global derivatives markets.   It has been five years since G20 leaders met in Pittsburgh and declared their commitment to a globally coordinated approach to reform the financial system. That commitment is now in jeopardy. As world financial leaders meet this month at the G20 meetings in Australia, it is vital that they redouble their focus on regulatory coordination to avoid fragmentation of markets, protectionism and regulatory arbitrage that could stifle economic growth. Global financial markets are intertwined, and regulators must acknowledge that policies and practices in one region will have a ripple effect across the world’s financial centres. To be clear, this is not a question about whether jurisdictions are pursuing the reforms agreed to at the Pittsburgh summit. In fact, according to the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (Iosco) and industry sources, all 20 jurisdictions are pursuing dramatic new rules regarding capital, prudential regulation and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives.     .... Read more...