Regulators seek global approach to short selling

By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Short-selling should be regulated as some practices may create disorderly markets during extreme financial turmoil, a global body of supervisors said on Monday.

Short-selling has been blamed by critics for exacerbating the slide in bank shares during the credit crunch.

And the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) policymakers, who have put forward recommendations to deal with the issue, have pointed to hedge funds as they often use the tactic.

"We believe that short selling should operate in a well-structured regulatory framework in the interests of maintaining a fair, orderly and efficient market," said Martin Wheatley, chairman of IOSCO's task force on short selling and also chief executive of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission.

Several European Union countries introduced curbs last year unilaterally, drawing industry criticism over a lack of coordination in a single EU share trading market. The slide in many financial shares continued in spite of the curbs.

Belgium extended a ban on short-selling to June 1 on Monday and Hong Kong said it was likely to amend its short selling regulations.

U.S. legislation was tabled last week aimed at forcing regulators to reinstate an "uptick" rule designed to limit short sales of stocks after the 1929 stock market crash. The rule, which was repealed two years ago, will be reconsidered by the Securities and Exchange Commission in April.

The IOSCO said short selling helped to improve price discovery in markets, mitigate price bubbles and increase liquidity, but called for regulation based on four principles.