On Tuesday, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is one of the most widely known independent authorities in the United States. The SEC has a wide range of responsibilities, helping police markets and curbing against abuse. This includes enforcing federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the US’ stock and options exchanges.As one of the paramount regulatory authorities in the US, the SEC is responsible for the oversight of public companies in the aforementioned segments.What Does the SEC Do?In order to achieve its obligations, the SEC enforces statutory requirements that public companies and other regulated companies submit quarterly and annual reports.Such reports are instrumental in unearthing or bringing to light any market abuse or improper action, ensuring a high degree of compliance out of market participants.These reports are also essential in maintaining the transparency of equity markets, namely private companies.Quarterly and semiannual reports from public companies are important for investors to make sound decisions when investing in the capital markets. Investment in the capital markets is not guaranteed by the federal government with such safeguards put in place to add a layer of compliance for example.The SEC is composed of five divisions: Corporate Finance, Trading and Markets, Investment Management, Enforcement, and Economic and Risk Analysis.With 11 regional offices in the US, the SEC helps police markets nationwide. In recent years the agency has also relied on additional forces for assistance as well, with the installment of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower.Founded in 2010, the SEC Whistleblower program has since awarded over $400 million to whistleblowers.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is one of the most widely known independent authorities in the United States. The SEC has a wide range of responsibilities, helping police markets and curbing against abuse. This includes enforcing federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the US’ stock and options exchanges.As one of the paramount regulatory authorities in the US, the SEC is responsible for the oversight of public companies in the aforementioned segments.What Does the SEC Do?In order to achieve its obligations, the SEC enforces statutory requirements that public companies and other regulated companies submit quarterly and annual reports.Such reports are instrumental in unearthing or bringing to light any market abuse or improper action, ensuring a high degree of compliance out of market participants.These reports are also essential in maintaining the transparency of equity markets, namely private companies.Quarterly and semiannual reports from public companies are important for investors to make sound decisions when investing in the capital markets. Investment in the capital markets is not guaranteed by the federal government with such safeguards put in place to add a layer of compliance for example.The SEC is composed of five divisions: Corporate Finance, Trading and Markets, Investment Management, Enforcement, and Economic and Risk Analysis.With 11 regional offices in the US, the SEC helps police markets nationwide. In recent years the agency has also relied on additional forces for assistance as well, with the installment of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower.Founded in 2010, the SEC Whistleblower program has since awarded over $400 million to whistleblowers.
Read this Term) said that it charged Allianz Global Investors US LLC (AGI US) and three former senior portfolio managers with multibillion-dollar securities fraud.
According to the press release, they were allegedly involved in a massive fraudulent scheme that concealed the ‘immense downside’ risks of a complex options trading strategy they called ‘Structured Alpha.’ Around 114 institutional investors purchased the strategy from AGI US, including pension funds for teachers, clergy, bus drivers, engineers, and other individuals. As a result of AGI US and the portfolio managers’ misconduct, a number of billions of dollars were lost as a result of the COVID-19 market crash in March 2020.
In an integrated, global resolution, AGI US has agreed to pay billions of dollars, including $1 billion to settle SEC charges and over $5 billion in restitution to victims along with its parent company, Allianz SE.
Case Background
According to the SEC complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan, Structured Alpha’s Lead Portfolio Manager, Gregoire P. Tournant, orchestrated the multi-year scheme to mislead investors who invested approximately $11 billion in Structured Alpha, and paid the defendants over $550 million in fees.
Tournant, along with Co-Lead Portfolio Manager Trevor L. Taylor and Portfolio Manager Stephen G. Bond-Nelson, is also alleged to have manipulated numerous financial reports and other information provided to investors to conceal the magnitude of Structured Alpha’s true risk and the funds’ actual performance.
“From at least January 2016 through March 2020, the defendants lied about nearly every aspect of a highly complex investment strategy they marketed to institutional investors, including pension funds managing the retirement savings of everyday Americans. While they were able to solicit over $11 billion in investments by the end of 2019 and earn over $550 million in fees as a result of their lies, they lost over $5 billion in investor funds when the market volatility
Volatility
In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets.
In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets.
Read this Term of March 2020 exposed the true risk of their products. Following the crash of the Structured Alpha Funds, the defendants continued their pattern of deceit by lying to SEC staff and their fraud would have gone undetected if it weren’t for the persistence of SEC lawyers who pieced together the full scope of the massive fraud,” Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, commented.
On Tuesday, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is one of the most widely known independent authorities in the United States. The SEC has a wide range of responsibilities, helping police markets and curbing against abuse. This includes enforcing federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the US’ stock and options exchanges.As one of the paramount regulatory authorities in the US, the SEC is responsible for the oversight of public companies in the aforementioned segments.What Does the SEC Do?In order to achieve its obligations, the SEC enforces statutory requirements that public companies and other regulated companies submit quarterly and annual reports.Such reports are instrumental in unearthing or bringing to light any market abuse or improper action, ensuring a high degree of compliance out of market participants.These reports are also essential in maintaining the transparency of equity markets, namely private companies.Quarterly and semiannual reports from public companies are important for investors to make sound decisions when investing in the capital markets. Investment in the capital markets is not guaranteed by the federal government with such safeguards put in place to add a layer of compliance for example.The SEC is composed of five divisions: Corporate Finance, Trading and Markets, Investment Management, Enforcement, and Economic and Risk Analysis.With 11 regional offices in the US, the SEC helps police markets nationwide. In recent years the agency has also relied on additional forces for assistance as well, with the installment of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower.Founded in 2010, the SEC Whistleblower program has since awarded over $400 million to whistleblowers.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is one of the most widely known independent authorities in the United States. The SEC has a wide range of responsibilities, helping police markets and curbing against abuse. This includes enforcing federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the US’ stock and options exchanges.As one of the paramount regulatory authorities in the US, the SEC is responsible for the oversight of public companies in the aforementioned segments.What Does the SEC Do?In order to achieve its obligations, the SEC enforces statutory requirements that public companies and other regulated companies submit quarterly and annual reports.Such reports are instrumental in unearthing or bringing to light any market abuse or improper action, ensuring a high degree of compliance out of market participants.These reports are also essential in maintaining the transparency of equity markets, namely private companies.Quarterly and semiannual reports from public companies are important for investors to make sound decisions when investing in the capital markets. Investment in the capital markets is not guaranteed by the federal government with such safeguards put in place to add a layer of compliance for example.The SEC is composed of five divisions: Corporate Finance, Trading and Markets, Investment Management, Enforcement, and Economic and Risk Analysis.With 11 regional offices in the US, the SEC helps police markets nationwide. In recent years the agency has also relied on additional forces for assistance as well, with the installment of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower.Founded in 2010, the SEC Whistleblower program has since awarded over $400 million to whistleblowers.
Read this Term) said that it charged Allianz Global Investors US LLC (AGI US) and three former senior portfolio managers with multibillion-dollar securities fraud.
According to the press release, they were allegedly involved in a massive fraudulent scheme that concealed the ‘immense downside’ risks of a complex options trading strategy they called ‘Structured Alpha.’ Around 114 institutional investors purchased the strategy from AGI US, including pension funds for teachers, clergy, bus drivers, engineers, and other individuals. As a result of AGI US and the portfolio managers’ misconduct, a number of billions of dollars were lost as a result of the COVID-19 market crash in March 2020.
In an integrated, global resolution, AGI US has agreed to pay billions of dollars, including $1 billion to settle SEC charges and over $5 billion in restitution to victims along with its parent company, Allianz SE.
Case Background
According to the SEC complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan, Structured Alpha’s Lead Portfolio Manager, Gregoire P. Tournant, orchestrated the multi-year scheme to mislead investors who invested approximately $11 billion in Structured Alpha, and paid the defendants over $550 million in fees.
Tournant, along with Co-Lead Portfolio Manager Trevor L. Taylor and Portfolio Manager Stephen G. Bond-Nelson, is also alleged to have manipulated numerous financial reports and other information provided to investors to conceal the magnitude of Structured Alpha’s true risk and the funds’ actual performance.
“From at least January 2016 through March 2020, the defendants lied about nearly every aspect of a highly complex investment strategy they marketed to institutional investors, including pension funds managing the retirement savings of everyday Americans. While they were able to solicit over $11 billion in investments by the end of 2019 and earn over $550 million in fees as a result of their lies, they lost over $5 billion in investor funds when the market volatility
Volatility
In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets.
In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets.
Read this Term of March 2020 exposed the true risk of their products. Following the crash of the Structured Alpha Funds, the defendants continued their pattern of deceit by lying to SEC staff and their fraud would have gone undetected if it weren’t for the persistence of SEC lawyers who pieced together the full scope of the massive fraud,” Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, commented.
Source: https://www.financemagnates.com/forex/brokers/us-sec-charges-allianz-global-investors-with-multibillion-dollar-fraud/