The SEC outlines ongoing commitment to data
In a recent speech, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler addressed the importance of digital data to fair, efficient, financial markets. Speaking at the 11th Annual Conference on Financial Market Regulation, Gensler highlighted the evolution of the SEC’s disclosure requirements.
During the speech, Gensler emphasised how the agency has adapted its rules to address emerging risks and changes in business models and technology.
Over the past two years, the SEC has updated disclosure mandates to include emerging risks such as climate change, cybersecurity, and novel financial mechanisms like SPACs. These changes aim to ensure that investors have access to crucial data that influences investment decisions. The inclusion of modern risks and the utilisation of new technologies reflect the SEC’s response to the evolving financial landscape and investor needs.
The backdrop of ongoing modernisation rests on the SEC’s fundamental role in promoting transparency and protecting investors. Established nearly a century ago, the framework for mandatory disclosure and prevention of insider trading remains a cornerstone of its mission. However, the way information is shared and consumed has transformed, prompting the SEC to adopt new methods like XBRL-tagged structured data to facilitate easier access to financial disclosures.
Gensler’s commentary underscores the ongoing need for regulatory frameworks to evolve in tandem with technological advancements and market dynamics. The SEC’s updates to the disclosure requirements are shaping the accessibility and reliability of financial data in the modern economy.
Read the full speech on the SEC’s website for an insight into the SEC’s evolving approach to financial disclosures and market transparency.
