Blockchain, the secure transaction ledger database that underpins bitcoin and similar digital payment networks, is on the CFTC's agenda Tuesday for  consideration of "blockchain and the potential application of distributed ledger technology to the derivatives market."  In Chicago two months ago, CEOs of the world's largest futures exchanges endorsed the efforts of Wall Street banks, exchanges, and Silicon Valley startups to decentralize clearing and settlement to save time and cut risk. Blockchain, a database shared by parties in an established network of computers that records and stores every transaction in the network, essentially eliminates the need for trusted third parties such as payment processors.  On Friday, the blockchain startup run by former JPMorgan Chase & Co. banker Blythe Masters  raised $52 million from investors and won a contract  to speed settlement in Australia's stock market.
25 January 2016
Week InAdvance
please join us...       
all times ET unless noted

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2016
INVESTORS Membership Telecon
4:30 - 5 pm
Brief updates from all Council chairs.
All INVESTORS members are invited to listen in.
for details & call-in info...
Matthew Jones
Staff Director
mjones@association.institutionalINVESTORS.org
(202) 712-9050
save the date...       
all times ET unless noted

Thursday, Feb 11, 2016
Market Practices Council Telecom
11am - noon

Last Wednesday of Every Month
INVESTORS Membership Telecon
4:30 - 5 pm
Brief updates from all Council chairs.
All members welcome to listen in.
week in brief
Monday, Jan 25
Federal offices in the DC area remain closed in aftermath of winter storm.  S nowmegadon gave residents the opportunity to take advantage of the relaxed ban on Capital ground sledding slipped into last year's omnibus spending measure. SEC Chair Mary Jo White to speak securities regulation conference in California.

Tuesday, Jan 26
CFTC panel to discuss blockchain technology, automated trading, and swap data standardization. FOMC begins two-day meeting on interest rates. Senate Finance hearing on retirement savings plans. Morningstar announces 2015 Fund Managers of the Year.

Wednesday, Jan 27
MSRB begins two-day board meeting. FOMC announces interest rate decision. G20 working group meetings in Beijing.

Thursday, Jan 28
FSOC meets on asset management.
Please see below for details on these and other events this week.

at the agencies
Tuesday, Jan 26
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
CFTC's Technology Advisory Committee meeting (available via live webcast and telecon). Topics include the CFTC's proposed rule on automated trading, swap data standardization, blockchain, and the potential application of distributed ledger technology to derivatives.  Blockchain is a decentralized, open ledger system that could replace the current process in which centralized third parties authenticate financial information stemming from derivatives trading and settlement.

Tuesday, Jan 26
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
The U.S. central bank's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) holds two-day meeting to set monetary policy, and economists expect the key rate to remain on hold.

Wednesday, Jan 27
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) completes their two-day policy meeting and issues its policy statement. U.S. central bank officials aren't expected to announce any change in the benchmark federal funds interest rate target of 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent, according to economists (2 pm ET).

Wednesday, Jan 27 -
Thursday, Jan 28
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RULEMAKING BOARD
The MSRB board will discuss its proposal to require municipal securities dealers to disclose the amount of the mark-up in a class of principal transactions on retail customer confirmations, which  seeks to enhance the transparency of investor transaction costs and dealer compensation in the municipal securities market.  On Wednesday, the board will discuss potential clarifications of MSRB Rule G-15, which relates to the minimum denomination in which municipal securities can be sold to investors, and secondary market disclosure in the municipal market related to bank loans and other alternative financings.

Thursday, Jan 28
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Financial Stability Oversight Council closed meeting. The preliminary agenda includes an update on international market developments, a discussion of the Council's 2016 annual report, and an update regarding the Council's ongoing work on asset management.
  
 
on the hill
Tuesday, Jan 26
SENATE FINANCE
Full committee hearing on "Helping Americans Prepare for Retirement: Increasing Access, Participation and Coverage in Retirement Savings Plans."

Tuesday, Jan 26
HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES
The Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing hearing on "Trading with the Enemy: Trade-Based Money Laundering is the Growth Industry in Terror Finance."

Tuesday, Jan 26
HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES
The full committee will weigh in on the 2017 federal budget with its own "views and estimates."  In 2015, the Republican-controlled committee criticized a White House request to significantly increase the SEC's budget and lamented agency progress on implementing rulemakings under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.
across the globe
Monday, Jan 25
BRUSSELS, Belgium
A public hearing of the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will include discussion and presentations on virtual currencies. 

Monday, Jan 25
PARIS, France
European Securities and Markets Authority open hearing regarding the ESMA consultation on its validation and review of credit rating agencies' methods.

Wednesday, Jan 27
LONDON, England
MiFID II: Spotlight on Independent Research. Bloomberg event on what MiFID II might mean for the world of investment research.

Wednesday, Jan 27
LONDON, England
SDA's Regulatory Developments for the Buy-Side. Topics include how will global regulators harmonize divergent rulemaking, what does margin for uncleared swaps mean for the buy side, and reporting requirements under EMIR and MiFID.

Wednesday, Jan 27 -
Thursday, Jan 28
BEIJING, China
G20 Framework Working Group Meeting #1 and Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting #1.
other events
Sunday, Jan 24 -
Wednesday, Jan 27
NAPLES, Florida
ABA Insurance Risk Management Forum. Topics include the reality of third-party risk regulatory guidance, the new risks and constraints of social media, and the implications of Bitcoin and virtual currencies.

Monday, Jan 25
NEW YORK CITY
ACAMS 4th Annual AML Risk Management conference. Speakers include Richard Weber, chief of criminal investigations at the IRS, and Eric Burns of the FBI.

Monday, Jan 25
WASHINGTON DC
Cybersecurity is the focus of annual 'State of the Net' tech and policy conference, giving a nod to the  realities of hacking and breaches of corporate and financial data.  U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, a keynote speaker, is scheduled to discuss the Justice Department's efforts at using the Internet as a law enforcement tool.

Monday Jan 25 -
Wednesday, Jan 27
CORONADO, California
Northwestern University School of Law's 43rd Annual Securities Regulation Institute. Speakers include the SEC's Chair Mary Jo White, enforcement chief Andrew Ceresney, and corporation finance director Keith Higgins; as well as  Leo Strine, chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court; and Jeanette M. Franzel, board member of the PCAOB ( Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) .

Tuesday, Jan 26
WASHINGTON DC
Brookings Institution holds a film screening and panel discussion (available via live webcast) on "Is the Narrative of 'The Big Short' the Best Explanation of the Financial Crisis?"

Tuesday, Jan 26
Morningstar announces its 2015 Fund Managers of the Year award winners. Leaders are selected in five categories: domestic stock, international stock, fixed income, allocation, and alternatives. The announcement will be made on CNBC's "Power Lunch" program at 11:30 am ET.