Greece scraps short-selling ban as strikes start to end
GREECE has scrapped its short-selling ban for all but financial stocks.
The short-selling ban was introduced in August 2011 to protect investors from the fallout of the debt crisis. It has since been repeatedly extended, with the latest ban expiring on 31 January.
Only the short-selling of bank stocks will be extended until 30 April, the country’s Capital Market Commission said, in view of the recapitalisation of the country’s lenders.
The news came as strikes across Greece’s public transport network appeared to be drawing to a close, following the government’s attempt to use emergency powers to prevent walkouts last week.
And investors are increasingly hopeful that Greece will remain part of the Eurozone, a survey suggested.
A poll of 956 investors by Sentix showed just 17.2 per cent expected one or more states to leave the bloc over the next 12 months, and those forecasting a Grexit fell from 22.5 per cent to 13.9 per cent.