On Aug. 27, 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced settlements with a U.S.-based registered investment adviser, several of its affiliates and two of its executives for alleged misconduct involving quantitative investment models that contained numerous errors.
These settlements, especially when placed in the context of other recent enforcement efforts related to quantitative and systematic trading strategies, make it clear that the SEC staff will utilize its anti-fraud powers to sanction investment advisers employing systematic or quantitative investment strategies that do not design and administer supervisory programs specifically designed to effectively address the risks inherent in algorithmic and similar investment techniques or that do not have accurate, current disclosures on those investment programs. The Aug. 27 settlements also reinforce a broader trend in holding senior personnel of investment advisers personally liable for their roles in causing an adviser’s violations.
To read more, click here.