SEC Chair Vows Tougher Oversight of Money Funds

Testifying before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro vowed to impose stricter regulations on a broad array of securities and practices, including money market funds, whose holdings would adhere to stricter credit quality, maturity and liquidity standards.

The SEC will also ask Congress for greater authorities, Schapiro said, including over hedge funds, credit-default swaps and municipal securities.

“Every day when I go to work, I am committed to putting the SEC on track to serve as a forceful capital markets regulator for the benefit of America’s investors,” Schapiro said. And due to the Bernard Madoff $65 billion scandal, she said, she is more committed than ever to protect investors’ money.

Custodians and investment advisers should be subject to annual, third-party audits, for one thing, she said. The SEC should publish the names of firms that have passed an audit, along with the auditors, on its website for all to see, she suggested.

The SEC is also considering reinstating the uptick rule on short sales.