2008 Securities Arbitration Filing Trends: Security Type

FINRA added three new securities types: Variable Annuities, Derivative Securities and Auction Rate Securities to the Security Type list in 2008. Derivative Securities and Auction Rate Securities to the Security Type list in 2008.  Derivative Securities was the second most frequently cited type of security in its first year on the list. Mutual funds moved ahead of Common Stock in 2008 as the most frequently cited security type in arbitrations. In fact, the number of arbitration filings that included Common Stock actually decreased 2% from 2007.  “Annuities” also decreased by 3% but that was likely due to the fact that “Variable Annuities” received its own category. Filings regarding Corporate Bonds increased 130% over 2007.