Important new regulatory changes are going into effect that will influence the business practices of many Fixed Income Researchers. The CFTC has announced final rules for research that involves derivatives. These are likely to go into effect in the middle of 2012 (please click the link for details).
In addition, FINRA has recently posted its second draft of comprehensive new rules for sell-side fixed income researchers. This version changed in substantial ways from the draft last fall. Its comment period ends in early April, so interested parties must speak up shortly.
Regardless of your side of the business, changes of this magnitude for the dealer community are destined to have profound ripple effects on the buy-side, rating agencies, independent research providers and others.
