Observer1

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    • Tue Sep 23rd 14:02 PM | Rating: 0 0
      Commented on:
      The Global War Against Shorts: Canada Bans Short-Selling
      John's concern is valid - shorts play a important market role and confidence that the rules will not be dramatically altered without notice is critical to the proper operation of the markets in the long term. Redwood_12's point needs also to be considered, though, as naked shorts are a form of market abuse. They are tantamount to an investor "issuing" additional shares of a company, which is inappropriate. A pity the SEC hasn't moved on these more aggressively in the past, given their potential for abuse.

      That being said, the OSC did not have much choice. If you read the order, the only stocks which are covered are those that are inter-listed between the US and Canada. If short selling of an inter-listed stock was banned in the US, then it also had to be banned in Canada. The OSC's aim, quite appropriately, is to prevent what they are calling "regulatory arbitrage" - a concern that seems real given the current circumstances.

      Don't we live in interesting times?
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