Banking

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published for comment two rules, one of which would grant thrift institutions a limited exception from Investment Advisers Act requirements governing the manner and extent to which such entities may hold themselves out to the public as providers of investment advisory services ( www.sec.gov/news/press/2004-58.htm ). The other rule would exempt thrift-sponsored collective trust funds from the Securities Exchange Act of 1934’s registration and reporting requirements. Such funds allow a bank or thrift to manage the assets of tax-qualified pension and profit-sharing plans on a pooled basis without creating an investment company, which would be subject to additional regulation as a mutual fund. Comments are due July 9.