The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a report suggesting that self-regulation failed to aggressively investigate possible trading and capital violations on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The Report of Investigation finds, among other things, that Nasdaq employees observed suspicious trading by an NASD member firm and did not communicate their observations to NASD Regulation Inc.

In response to the commission’s investigation, the NASD and Nasdaq have implemented a number of remedial steps, all designed to strengthen the self-regulatory oversight of their market. NASD and Nasdaq have also consented to the issuance of the report, but neither admit nor deny the findings or conclusions.

“The commission will not permit the regulatory responsibilities of exchanges and other markets to fall victim to increased competition or other business pressures,” declared Stephen Cutler, Director of the Division of Enforcement.

“A critical line of defense for investors is the self-regulatory organization. In carrying out their regulatory responsibilities, SROs must ensure that they effectively manage the inherent conflicts between their role as a market and their role as a regulator. If they fail in these responsibilities, the damage done far exceeds the harm to one SRO. Rather, it directly affects the integrity of U.S. Markets,” the report concludes.

“Investors are entitled to expect that SROs will take all steps necessary to ensure the integrity of their markets,” it adds. “It is imperative that the SRO oversees the structure to ensure that the markets act responsibly and in compliance with their regulatory obligations.”

As a result of the investigation, the SEC has launched an administrative proceeding against the firm, MarketXT and its chief technology officer, alleging securities fraud for executing the wash trades and matched orders in order to capture market-data rebates from Nasdaq, and it charged MarketXT with operating without adequate net capital. Those allegations have yet to be proven.