The comment period on the so-called "Volcker Rule" proposal has been extended from January 13, 2012 to February 13, 2012. SEC Commissioners Daniel M. Gallagher and Troy A. Paredes have issued a written statement asserting that the extension period should have been longer "given the complexities of the Volcker Rule proposal."
The Volcker Rule proposal, required under the Dodd-Frank Act, will impose certain prohibitions and restrictions on the ability of a banking entity and nonbank financial company to engage in proprietary trading and have interests in, or relationships with, a hedge fund or private equity fund. Members of the industry have expressed concerns that the proposal could reduce liquidity in fixed income markets and result in higher trading costs.