On May 15, 2020, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a Regulatory Notice (“Oil-Linked Exchange-Traded Products”), which highlighted the fact that Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs), which provide different types of exposure to the oil market through several product structures, might not be understood by investors or investment professionals and that the performance of such products […]
On April 30, 2020, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an a report (“Protecting Senior Investors 2015-2020, An Update on the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors, Other FINRA Initiatives and Member Firm Practices”), which highlighted the fact that seniors, who “make up an increasingly large share of the American population and hold higher levels […]
On April 16, 2020, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an alert which stated that “there is no higher priority for FINRA than protecting senior investors from financial exploitation. Thus, every year we bring dozens of enforcement actions against brokers who harm senior investors, either through fraud schemes, conversion, churning of accounts, or otherwise.” […]
On April 3, 2020, in a research note to clients (“Navigating Credit Risks in the Midstream Sector”), Bank America – Merrill Lynch noted that the rating agency Standard & Poors believes that “over 40 producers” in the midstream energy sector “will be rated in the CCC category” and that it “sees potential for bankruptcies or […]
On March 17, 2020, Fitch Ratings downgraded senior notes to ‘A’ from ‘AAA’ and preferred shares to ‘BBB’ from ‘AA or ‘A’ of 10 midstream energy closed-end funds (CEFs) following severe declines in portfolio values that eroded the funds’ asset coverage ratios. Fitch also placed all securities on Rating Watch Negative reflecting the potential for […]