<P> The Financial crisis of 2007--2010 has seen much criticism of the securities regulators for failing to stop abuses of markets and their slowness in responding to the crisis and having suffered regulatory capture . </P> <P> Most securities commissions are semi-independent government organisations that have a board of commissioners, usually appointed by the government of the country . They are often fully or partially funded by the organisations that are regulated through charges such as registration and licensing fees . </P> <P> There is no common name for securities commission or financial regulatory agency in each country . Naming has become more complicated as some governments have consolidated or merged organisations and given them a wider remit . They sometimes contain the term securities and commission . Such as the Securities and Exchange Commission of the US or Securities and Futures Commission (Hong Kong). A number also have names based on Financial Authority, such as the Financial Services Authority of the UK or Financial Supervisory Authority (Sweden) or variations such as the Financial Services Agency (Japan). </P> <P> Most securities commissions have a mandate to protect consumers, make sure there is an orderly and stable financial market and that brokers and participants behave fairly with clients and each other . Often local stock exchanges as well as brokers are covered by the commission . </P>

What is the uk equivalent of the sec