3/15/2004: GAO Testimony: Assessment of Regulatory Reforms to Improve the Management and Sale of Mutual Funds (U.S. Government Accountability Office [GAO])

32 pages. "[T]o prevent further late trading, SEC has proposed that all mutual fund orders be received by funds or designated processors by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but this action may unfairly impact some retail investors that place orders through financial intermediaries. Although GAO supports in the short run the proposed hard 4:00 p.m. close ... GAO believes that SEC should continue to work with industry participants, including pension plan intermediaries, to address concerns that the hard close would adversely affect investors that use such intermediaries. To address market timing, SEC is proposing that funds make greater disclosure of market timing, securities pricing, and portfolio disclosure policies. GAO supports these steps and encourages regulators to educate investors about the importance of such disclosures." [GAO-04-533T, published Mar. 10, 2004, released Mar. 10, 2004]