The heavy regulations surrounding the financial markets are designed to protect consumers and investors. Explore Investopedia's expert-written library to learn what you need to know.

What Is Regulation A? Definition, Update, Documenation, and Tiers
Rule 10b5-1
Rule 10b5-1 Definition, How It Works, SEC Requirements
Volcker Rule: A federal regulation that generally prohibits banks from conducting certain investment activities.
Volcker Rule: Definition, Purpose, How It Works, and Criticism
Rule 10b-18 Definition and How Compliance Works
A group of business people sitting in a meeting
Section 16 Definition and SEC Filing Requirements
A trader uses a pad at a cafe table to check stock market data.
What Was the Short Sale Rule? Definition, History and Controversy
Government Regulations: Do They Help Businesses?
Government Regulations: Do They Help Businesses?
Calculate How Much Cost or Spending Have With Credit Cards
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy's Effects on Shareholders Equity
How Government Regulation Affects the Financial Services Sector?
Zoning Ordinance: Definition, Types of Regulations, Pros and Cons
Close-Up Of Stock Market Data On Digital Display
SEC Rule 144: Definition, Holding Periods, and Other Rules
Regulation W: Definition in Banking and When It Applies
Rule 144A: A legal provision that lifts restrictions on the trading of privately placed securities for qualified institutional buyers.
Rule 144A: Definition, What It Allows, and Criticism
Vintage toned Wall Street at sunset, NYC.
How Investment Banks Are Regulated
Stock graph
Uptick Rule: An SEC Rule Governing Short Sales
Hands on a laptop keyboard
Rule 10b-5: Definition and Role in Securities Fraud
U.S. Secutities and Exchange Commission headquarters
Are Private Companies Required to Publish Financial Statements?
Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters.
Regulation Best Interest (BI): Definition, Broker Obligations
Regulation SHO: Definition, What It Regulates, and Requirements
What Was Rule 48?
U.S. Secutities and Exchange Commission headquarters
Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD): Definition, Transparency
Habendum Clause: What it Means, How it Works
Businessman was beaten spit out coins
Civil Money Penalty (CMP): What it is, How it Works
The US Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters located at 100 F Street, NE in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC
Regulation NMS
President Barack Obama signing bill in Oval Office.
Major Regulations Following the 2008 Financial Crisis
Regulated Market Explained, With Pros and Cons
An Investor looks at monitors tracking prices of securities.
Commodity vs. Security: What's the Difference?
Historical photo of a bank run in New York
Diamond-Dybvig Model: Theory of Bank Runs
Store owner puts open sign in store window
Anti-Boycott Regulations: Meaning, Examples, FAQs
Rules of Fair Practice: Meaning, Prohibited Conduct, Penalties
Warehouse Team Meeting
Master-Servant Rule: Meaning, Overview, Examples
Regulation EE: What It Is, How It Works, FAQs
Aerial view of business people in a meeting with papers and a laptop on the table
Rule 10b-6: Meaning, History, Replacement
United States Federal Reserve building, Washington DC, USA
Regulation K: What it is, How it Works, Specific Details
Judge Holding Documents
Abeyance Order: What it is, How it Works, Example
What are the requirements for being a Public Limited Company?
Volcker Rule: What It Means, How It Works