Securities and Exchange Commission 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting rule amendments requiring mutual funds to provide risk/return summary information in a form that is intended to improve its usefulness to investors. Under the rules, risk/return summary information could be downloaded directly into spreadsheets, analyzed in a variety of ways using commercial off-the-shelf software, and used within investment models in other software formats. Mutual funds will provide the risk/return summary section of their prospectuses to the Commission and on their Web sites in interactive data format using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (``XBRL''). The interactive data will be provided as exhibits to registration statements and as exhibits to prospectuses with risk/ return summary information that varies from the registration statement. The rules are intended not only to make risk/return summary information easier for investors to analyze but also to assist in automating regulatory filings and business information processing. Interactive data has the potential to increase the speed, accuracy, and usability of mutual fund disclosure, and eventually reduce costs. We also are adopting rules to permit investment companies to submit portfolio holdings information in our interactive data voluntary program without being required to submit other financial information.

We are adopting rules requiring companies to provide financial statement information in a form that is intended to improve its usefulness to investors. In this format, financial statement information could be downloaded directly into spreadsheets, analyzed in a variety of ways using commercial off-the-shelf software, and used within investment models in other software formats. The rules will apply to public companies and foreign private issuers that prepare their financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), and foreign private issuers that prepare their financial statements using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Companies will provide their financial statements to the Commission and on their corporate Web sites in interactive data format using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). The interactive data will be provided as an exhibit to periodic and current reports and registration statements, as well as to transition reports for a change in fiscal year. The new rules are intended not only to make financial information easier for investors to analyze, but also to assist in automating regulatory filings and business information processing. Interactive data has the potential to increase the speed, accuracy and usability of financial disclosure, and eventually reduce costs.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is extending the comment period for a release proposing a Roadmap for the potential use of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (``IFRS'') as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board by U.S. issuers for purposes of their filings with the Commission and amendments to various regulations, rules and forms that would permit early use of IFRS by a limited number of U.S. issuers [Release No. 33-8982; 73 FR 70816 (Nov. 21, 2008)]. The original comment period for Release No. 33-8982 is scheduled to end on February 19, 2009. The Commission is extending the time period in which to provide the Commission with comments on that release for 60 days until Monday, April 20, 2009. This action will allow interested persons additional time to analyze the issues and prepare their comments.