US Treasury seeks input on financial market review

WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) The U.S. Treasury on Thursday requested public comments to help it design a blueprint for a new U.S.

financial regulatory structure to improve U.S. capital markets competitiveness.

The request seeks input on a variety of topics, including the merits of moving to a single, British-style financial regulator for all financial services and markets from the current U.S. patchwork system.

It also seeks views on the pros and cons of shifting to a ''principles-based'' approach to regulation from the current U.S.

rules-based system.

''What are the strengths, weaknesses and feasibility of such approaches and could a more principles-based approach improve U.S. competitiveness?'' the Treasury asks in one of the request's questions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has launched a review of U.S. regulatory structure to consider ways to improve efficiency, reduce overlap between agencies, strengthen consumer and investor protection and ensure that financial institutions have the ability to keep pace with evolving markets.

The blueprint, set for release early next year, will focus on all types of financial institutions: commercial banks and other insured depository institutions, insurance, securities and futures firms and other financial intermediaries, the Treasury said.

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