JPMorgan-SEC deal on mortgage CDO approved: judge

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $153.6 million settlement between JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the top U.S. market regulator over allegations a mortgage CDO product defrauded the bank’s investors at the time of the housing market collapse. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the second-largest U.S. bank announced the settlement on June 21 of civil charges over JPMorgan’s collateralized debt obligation marketed as Squared CDO 2007-1.