21 Oct 2008 - ASIC extends short-selling ban for another month on non-financials

ASIC has extended the ban on covered short selling for non-financial securities until 18 Novemeber 2008 while the ban on covered short selling for financial securities is expected to remain in place until 27 January 2009.

Full ASIC Statement

ASIC today said it would extend the ban on covered short selling for non-financial securities for a further 28 days until 18 November 2008, when it expected the ban would be lifted.

In its announcement of 21 September ASIC said that the ban on covered short selling for non-financial stocks would be reviewed in 30 days. In the case of financial stocks, ASIC said that its review would be in line with time limits imposed by other international regulators.

Following the 30 day review, ASIC has decided to maintain the ban on covered short sales for non-financial stocks until 18 November 2008. ASIC expects to lift the ban from opening of trading the next day.

The ban on financial stocks will continue until 27 January 2009, and while the US has lifted its bans, other jurisdictions such as the UK are maintaining bans on financial stocks.

ASIC Chairman, Tony D'Aloisio, said market conditions since the bans were imposed remained difficult. "While the various Government actions and packages introduced in Australia and overseas are positive developments, they are yet to work through the financial system. The financial markets are still fragile, so we feel the reopening of covered short sales should be done in stages and in a measured way over an extended period and have regard to systemic issues, particularly for financial stocks."

Key changes

In summary:

1. The ban on financials will continue until 27 January 2009. For the purposes of the Australian market, ASIC has taken a pragmatic approach to the definition of financials as entities in the S&P/ASX 200 Financial Index (which will include property trusts and five other APRA supervised listed entities not in this index).



2. ASIC expects to lift the ban on non financials from opening trade on 19 November 2008. ASIC cannot, however, provide greater certainty than that because of the state of the markets.



3. As part of lifting the ban on non-financials, ASIC with ASX have been putting in place disclosure and reporting arrangements that will apply from the time the ban is lifted. These will be announced to the market later this week.

For clarity, no changes have been made to the exemptions and facilitations which ASIC has granted. In short, all current arrangements will continue.

ASIC will, at least three trading days before 18 November 2008, issue a further release on its expectation of lifting the ban on non-financials.