Surprise, surprise

Financial regulators on both sides of the Atlantic deserve a bit of a pat on the back. Three cheers might even be in order. What have those guys and gals been up to that is so deserving of our admiration? Leveling playing fields, that's what. The US Securities and Exchange Commission and, as ever playing catch-up, the UK's Financial Services Authority have been smoothing the turf with aplomb. It is all very laudable stuff. They are trying to protect the interests of the private investor; trying