A global 'shareholder society'
30 Oct 2004
In his recent Remarks before the International Organization of Securities Commissions, US SEC Chairman William H.
Donaldson highlighted the importance of providing credible financial information in all of the world's public capital markets:
The work we are doing on U.S. markets, and the work all of you are doing in your markets, is part and parcel of a broader issue: the movement of millions of people throughout the world into what has been called 'the shareholder society.' While share ownership has historically been limited to the wealthier nations of the world, today it can be found in all corners of the globe. More than 13 million households in India are directly invested in debt or equity shares, based on the most recent statistics. And there are believed to be approximately 36 million active equity investors in China. |