This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7624654.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| UK shares enjoy strong increases | UK shares enjoy strong increases |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Leading UK shares rose in early Friday trading as investors appeared to welcome the City regulator's ban on short-selling in financial stocks. | Leading UK shares rose in early Friday trading as investors appeared to welcome the City regulator's ban on short-selling in financial stocks. |
| Shares were also lifted by US plans to rid American banks of their bad debt. | Shares were also lifted by US plans to rid American banks of their bad debt. |
| The FTSE 100 index was up as much as 338 points or 7% to 5,218 in early exchanges, with banking stocks among the biggest risers. RBS was up 42%. | The FTSE 100 index was up as much as 338 points or 7% to 5,218 in early exchanges, with banking stocks among the biggest risers. RBS was up 42%. |
| The gains come after the Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced its temporary move on Thursday night. | The gains come after the Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced its temporary move on Thursday night. |
| See graph of FTSE 100 this week | |
| Other banking stocks that were up sharply included HBOS, up 36%, Lloyds TSB, up 33%, and Barclays, up 27%. | Other banking stocks that were up sharply included HBOS, up 36%, Lloyds TSB, up 33%, and Barclays, up 27%. |
| 'Disorderly markets' | 'Disorderly markets' |
| Short-selling involves traders profiting from falling share prices. | Short-selling involves traders profiting from falling share prices. |
| The breathtaking rises in the price of bank shares this morning are symptomatic of a stock market that is bereft of reason and is being driven almost purely by fear and momentum. BBC Business Editor Robert Peston Read Robert Peston's latest blogWhat is short-selling? | The breathtaking rises in the price of bank shares this morning are symptomatic of a stock market that is bereft of reason and is being driven almost purely by fear and momentum. BBC Business Editor Robert Peston Read Robert Peston's latest blogWhat is short-selling? |
| The technique works when investors borrow shares from another investor, and then sell them hoping the price will fall. | The technique works when investors borrow shares from another investor, and then sell them hoping the price will fall. |
| The aim is then to buy back the asset at a lower price and return it to its owner, pocketing the difference. | The aim is then to buy back the asset at a lower price and return it to its owner, pocketing the difference. |
| Previously anyone could short a position in a company's shares, but typically hedge funds were the main players. | Previously anyone could short a position in a company's shares, but typically hedge funds were the main players. |
| The temporary ban on short-selling applies to 29 financial stocks. | The temporary ban on short-selling applies to 29 financial stocks. |
| It was introduced by the FSA due to concerns that short-selling had been a contributory factor in the sharp falls in HBOS shares before it was rescued by Lloyds TSB. | It was introduced by the FSA due to concerns that short-selling had been a contributory factor in the sharp falls in HBOS shares before it was rescued by Lloyds TSB. |
| The ban, which came into force at midnight on Thursday, will last until 16 January but the FSA will review its operation in 30 days. | The ban, which came into force at midnight on Thursday, will last until 16 January but the FSA will review its operation in 30 days. |
| "While we still regard short-selling as a legitimate investment technique in normal market conditions, the current extreme circumstances have given rise to disorderly markets," said FSA chief executive Hector Sants. | "While we still regard short-selling as a legitimate investment technique in normal market conditions, the current extreme circumstances have given rise to disorderly markets," said FSA chief executive Hector Sants. |
| 'Heart of problem' | 'Heart of problem' |
| European stocks were also up strongly on Friday following the announcement overnight that US officials are working on a plan to help rid US banks of their bad debts. | European stocks were also up strongly on Friday following the announcement overnight that US officials are working on a plan to help rid US banks of their bad debts. |
| US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said he wanted a solution that "aimed right at the heart of this problem". | US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said he wanted a solution that "aimed right at the heart of this problem". |
| France's Cac 40 index was up 6%, while Germany's Dax had advanced 3.8%. | France's Cac 40 index was up 6%, while Germany's Dax had advanced 3.8%. |
| Wall Street's Dow Jones finished Thursday up 3.9%. | Wall Street's Dow Jones finished Thursday up 3.9%. |
| The UK short-selling ban applies to shares in the following companies - Admiral, Alliance & Leicester, Alliance Trust, Arbuthnot, Aviva, Barclays, Bradford & Bingley, Brit Insurance, Chesnara, European Islamic Investment Bank, Friends Provident, HBOS, Highway Insurance, HSBC, Islamic Bank of Britain, Just Retirement Holdings, Legal & General, Lloyds TSB, London Scottish, Novae, Old Mutual, Prudential, Resolution, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, RSA Insurance, St James's Place, Standard Chartered, Standard Life, and Tawa. | The UK short-selling ban applies to shares in the following companies - Admiral, Alliance & Leicester, Alliance Trust, Arbuthnot, Aviva, Barclays, Bradford & Bingley, Brit Insurance, Chesnara, European Islamic Investment Bank, Friends Provident, HBOS, Highway Insurance, HSBC, Islamic Bank of Britain, Just Retirement Holdings, Legal & General, Lloyds TSB, London Scottish, Novae, Old Mutual, Prudential, Resolution, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, RSA Insurance, St James's Place, Standard Chartered, Standard Life, and Tawa. |
| name="graph"> | |
| Return to story | |
| Have you been affected by the financial crisis in any way? Send us your story using the form below. Your comment and contact details will not be published. | Have you been affected by the financial crisis in any way? Send us your story using the form below. Your comment and contact details will not be published. |