In the wake of the Madoff scandal, the Securities and Exchange Commission ended an exemption on auditors for privately held brokerage firms.

The S.E.C. has been deteriorating for years. Rebuilding it will require political backing and greater industry expertise.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a report to Congress that recommended maintaining the accounting rules, but suggested improvements to current practices.

From Wednesday, the federal court in Manhattan will be the forum for three important issues affecting investors caught in the scandal surrounding Bernard L. Madoff.

The federal court in Manhattan will be the forum for three important issues affecting investors caught in the widening scandal surrounding Bernard L. Madoff.

The federal court in Manhattan will be the forum for three important issues affecting investors caught in the widening scandal surrounding Bernard L. Madoff.

Federal officials are bringing far fewer prosecutions as a result of fraudulent stock schemes than they did eight years ago, according to new data.

Federal officials are bringing far fewer prosecutions as a result of fraudulent stock schemes than they did eight years ago, according to new data.

The targets of the proposed investigation include Bruce R. Bent, the president of the Reserve Management, and his two sons.

The scheme, which earned $4.8 million in profit, depended upon tips from the employee’s wife.