• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

Regulations won’t prevent another MF Global debacle

By
Nin-Hai Tseng
Nin-Hai Tseng
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Nin-Hai Tseng
Nin-Hai Tseng
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 22, 2012, 2:04 PM ET


Jon Corzine now has a regulation named after him.

FORTUNE – When MF Global collapsed, confidence in the multi-billion dollar futures markets plummeted as investigators search for answers into more than $1 billion in missing customer funds. Now regulators and exchange operators say they’ve come up with new regulations that could help prevent another meltdown.

Oddly enough, this comes even before investigators have figured out what really went wrong at the broker-dealer under then CEO Jon Corzine.

During the tumultuous days leading up to MF Global’s bankruptcy in October, the firm apparently dipped into customers’ futures accounts. This goes against laws that require the firm to keep its money separate from accounts held by customers. Approximately $1.2 billion went missing, with Corzine testifying on Capitol Hill less than two months after his firm’s collapse that he didn’t know where the money was. Turns out, as The New York Times reported, investigators traced “hundreds of millions of dollars” to banks, MF Global’s trading partners and even the firm’s securities customers. But the developments still leave uncertain how the money would be recovered to customers. And perhaps more importantly, who’s at fault.

On Wednesday, a House committee voted to subpoena an MF Global executive who oversaw the firm’s use of customer money for another hearing next week. Prosecutors in New York and Chicago, regulators, lawmakers are all demanding answers over the disappearance of customer money.

MORE: What’s at the core of corporate wrongdoing?

There are obviously a lot of unanswered questions. But that hasn’t stopped regulators from finding solutions to problems that federal investigators are still trying to piece together.

In December, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved new regulations to protect customer funds. And earlier this month, in response to the MF Global debacle, the National Futures Association announced new rules that would limit what brokerage firms can do with customer money. One proposal, dubbed the “Corzine Rule,” has been gaining attention. It would require a principal, such as a CEO, of a futures firm sign off before certain large transfers of customers’ funds are made. The firm would also need to notify regulators of the transfer.

Those who believe the Corzine Rule might work might also believe things would have turned out differently at MF Global if the rule were already in place. Of course, that assumes they also believe that Corzine himself or other executives would actually report to regulators the money transfers from customers’ accounts.

NFA CEO Daniel Roth says the new regulations would help the futures market regain credibility. But even he has expressed skepticism about how much regulations can really prevent fraud.

“Until this investigation is complete, we will not know the full facts of exactly what went wrong at MF Global,” said Roth, testifying before a House committee about a month after the firm’s collapse. “What I do know, though, is no system of regulation can in every instance prevent people intent on breaking the law from doing so …”

Indeed, regulations are assumed to be less than perfect. Could they be any better without really knowing what problems they’re intended to solve?

About the Author
By Nin-Hai Tseng
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Jamie Laing thinks tomorrow’s Fortune 500 will be built by creators. He might be right 
C-Suitecreator economy
Jamie Laing thinks tomorrow’s Fortune 500 will be built by creators. He might be right 
By Sam BirchallJune 10, 2026
39 minutes ago
Geoffrey von Maltzahn and Kimberly Powell on stage at Fortune Brainstorm Tech
AITerm Sheet
AI drug discovery leaders warn U.S. health funding cuts risk falling behind global rivals
By Lily Mae LazarusJune 10, 2026
1 hour ago
The U.S. strategic petroleum reserve is so low it’s near panic levels
EnergyMarkets
The U.S. strategic petroleum reserve is so low it’s near panic levels
By Jim EdwardsJune 10, 2026
1 hour ago
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 10, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 10, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 10, 2026
2 hours ago
Top CD rates today, June 10, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.30%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, June 10, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.30%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 10, 2026
2 hours ago
A ‘MAGA Warrior’ Texas ag chief is publicly blasting the USDA over a flesh-eating pest threatening America’s beef supply
North AmericaUSDA
A ‘MAGA Warrior’ Texas ag chief is publicly blasting the USDA over a flesh-eating pest threatening America’s beef supply
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 10, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
19 hours ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
23 hours ago
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
23 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.