European antitrust regulators on February 27, 2008 fined Microsoft $1.3 billion for failing to comply with a 2004 judgment, that the company had abused its market dominance.

Last week, regulators fined five Italian networks hundreds of thousands of euros for giving the Prime Minister lopsided coverage before local elections.

The regulator, NASD, which was formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, also fined Salomon $5 million for issuing the research.

Yesterday, regulators fined the firm, now part of Goldman Sachs, $1 million.

In May, regulators fined Riggs National's subsidiary, Riggs Bank, $25 million for failing to comply adequately with anti-money-laundering practices.

The Dutch antitrust regulator fined five mobile phone companies a total of 88 million euros ($92 million) for colluding to reduce handset subsidies.

In May, regulators fined Riggs $25 million for failing to adequately monitor suspicious activities, the largest such penalty ever imposed on an American bank.

The manager, Philippe Jabre, made headlines when British regulators fined him and his firm £750,000 ($ 1.4 million) each, accusing Mr. Jabre of insider trading.

European antitrust regulators, however, have never fined a company the full 10 percent, and Brussels-based lawyers and officials had expected the fine against Microsoft to range from 100 million euros to 1 billion euros.

New Jersey's pattern of non-enforcement is in sharp contrast to New York, where regulators fined all 23 auto insurers they examined last year.