WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators officially rejected a banking industry push to suspend accounting rules that force banks to value assets on their balance sheets at current market prices even if they plan to hold them for years.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a report to Congress that recommends maintaining so-called "mark-to-market" rules, but suggests improvements to current accounting practices.

Proponents of the rules said suspending them would weaken transparency in companies' financial statements, hurting investors and the capital markets.