Renewed concern over short-selling

In an open letter to the FSA's chief executive, Hector Sants, the Treasury Select Committee urged the regulator to monitor the situation. On 16 January, the FSA lifted its temporary ban on taking new short positions in a number of UK financial shares. However, investors are still required to disclose any significant positions. Following dramatic falls in bank shares this week, Committee chairman John McFall MP says he is worried about the actions of hedge funds. The letter says: "In the light of the extreme market turbulence in bank shares in the week since the ban was lifted, could ...