Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - the Securities and Exchange Commission, created in 1934 in the United States to restore investor confidence in the stock market during the Great Depression. As of today SEC is the primary authority for the oversight and regulation of the U.S. securities market.

CredentialsThe SEC has the authority of the U.S. Congress to take action against companies and individuals found guilty of financial fraud and other securities violations. Large companies submit quarterly and annual, and sometimes more frequently, reports to the SEC that must provide information on all securities transactions made during a given period.

The agency maintains its own information base (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system - EDGAR)available to investors. In addition, the SEC produces a variety of training materials on securities and the functioning of the market.