Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC)
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an
independent federal government agency responsible for protecting
investors, maintaining fair and orderly functioning of the
securities markets, and facilitating capital formation.
- The SEC promotes full public disclosure, protects investors
against fraudulent and manipulative practices in the market, and
monitors corporate takeover actions in the United States. It also
approves registration statements for book runners among
underwriting firms.
- It was created by Congress in 1934 as the first federal
regulator of the securities markets.
Working of
Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC)
- The SEC's primary function is to oversee organizations and
individuals in the securities markets, including securities
exchanges, brokerage firms, dealers, investment advisers, and
investment funds through established securities rules and
regulations.
- The SEC promotes disclosure and sharing of market-related
information, fair dealing, and protection against fraud.
- It provides investors with access to registration statements,
periodic financial reports, and other securities forms through its
electronic data-gathering, analysis, and retrieval database, known
as EDGAR.
Divisions And Their
Respective Roles
The SEC consists of five divisions and 23 offices. Their goals
are to interpret and take enforcement actions on securities laws,
issue new rules, provide oversight of securities institutions, and
coordinate regulation among different levels of government. The
five divisions and their respective roles are:
- Division of Corporate Finance. Ensures
investors are provided with material information (that is,
information relevant to a company's financial prospects or stock
price) in order to make informed investment decisions.
- Division of Enforcement. In charge of
enforcing SEC regulations by investigating cases and prosecuting
civil suits and administrative proceedings.
- Division of Investment Management. Regulates
investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally
registered investment advisers.
- Division of Economic and Risk Analysis.
Integrates economics and data analytics into the core mission of
the SEC
- Division of Trading and Markets. Establishes
and maintains standards for fair, orderly, and efficient
markets.
In Nut Shell
:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is responsible for
overseeing the securities markets and protecting investors.
- The SEC can bring only civil actions against lawbreakers, but
works with the Justice Department on criminal cases.
- After the Great Recession, the SEC recovered close to $4
billion in penalties and other damages as a result of its
prosecutions.
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