Recalls of generic Zantac believed to be contaminated by a carcinogen continue to flood in. Two other firms have declared recalls of ranitidine heartburn meds in 150 mg and 300 mg doses. The news arrived even as the degree of the drug returns increased with Mylan’s impromptu recall of three lots of nizatidine capsules last week because the API in them also held dangerous levels of NDMA.
Shortly after the Federal officials announced the voluntary recalls of some pharmacies over NDMA, a drug filled with a potential human carcinogen, many other pharmacies have recalled the common variety of heartburn drug Zantac, called ranitidine, from shelves.
Additional generic editions of Zantac are being taken down from pharmacy shelves after officials detected low levels of a possible carcinogens in the heartburn medication.
The Stryker Tritanium Acetabular Shell, which restores the human hip socket, is built from a titanium alloy covered with a unique kind of porous foam. The foam enables bone cells to bind with it and grow, thereby increasing joint stability. However, a 2018 report in the journal Arthroplasty Today by doctors at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospitals described five hip implant failures related to Stryker’s Tritanium cups between 2011 and 2016.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) published its 2019 Report on Examination Findings and Observations on October 16, 2019. This marks the third published annual report of FINRA finding which in an unprecedented departure from the prior reports, distinguishes “findings” (determinations that a firm or registered person has violated SEC, FINRA or other relevant rules) from “observations” (suggestions as to how a firm might improve control of its environment).
FINRA is far from a shadowy regulatory agency. They do their best to find themselves in the public eye, if only to keep investors informed on current regulations and scams. They also keep an exhaustive database of the professional records of all registered broker-dealers and financial advisors; the database is online and searchable. FINRA’s BrokerCheck is a mighty tool for investors seeking to learn more about their advisors; it’s one of many tools and rules that investors can use to protect themselves against fraud and malfeasance.
The last few months have been a difficult time for many investors. The stock market has taken a major dive, closing out 2018 with the worst performing December since The Great Depression. With so much volatility, it’s crucial that investors have a carefully planned portfolio with an adequate amount of diversification. Above all, that portfolio should match the individual investors risk tolerance and investment objectives. That match must be valid from the day it was made until today. A portfolio that worked for an individual investor in a bull market may be a terrible match for that same person in a bear market.
As baby boomers hit retirements, bringing with them the largest amount of wealth a single generation has ever possessed, regulators at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) foresee an ever growing number of financial scams designed to separate boomers from their hard-earned savings.
In order to reform the system, investor advocacy groups have suggested the SEC enhance the standard to which brokerages and brokers are held with regard to investor best interests. Currently the standard is based on the necessity of matching investor and investment through a concept known as "suitability." Investor advocates like PIABA, however, want to raise the bar to the "best interest” standard.
From February 2011 to December 2015, Citigroup displayed to investors, brokers, and supervisors inaccurate ratings related to more than 1,800 equities, or more than 38% covered by the firm. These mistakes included the wrong execution recommendations (“buy” instead of “sell”); ratings which were mixed up between securities; or non-ratings for securities which were actually rated.
There’s a universe of advice and information out there for investors looking to educate and protect themselves. Tune in to MSNBC or visit TheStreet.com and you’ll find a million answers to million different questions related to investing intelligently. But for all this “noise” about investing, there is some basic, critical information you probably will not hear about that could make all the difference to your financial well-being.
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