The basic structure for the public distribution of securities in the United States--which places limits on a company’s communications before a final prospectus is available--was adopted almost seventy years ago, before the revolution in electronic communications and the advent of the Internet. The capital markets are globalized for institutions trading privately, but the access of U.S. residents to foreign securities is still restricted in various ways. The SEC’s recent Regulation FD ("Fair Disclosure"), which requires companies to disseminate material information to the public at the same time the information is distributed to selected groups, may diminish the role of analysts as information intermediaries.

Does the communications revolution require changes in the securities distribution process? Is there a responsible way to create truly globalized securities markets? Is Regulation FD soundly based in policy or academic work? This conference, sponsored jointly with the Securities Industry Association, will address these and other questions.