Germany wants short-selling ban

THE German government, which applied curbs on some types of short-selling last year, said it favours a far-reaching ban across Europe of so-called naked short-selling of shares, government bonds and credit default swaps.

“Only through this can destructive speculation be countered in a convincing way,” the finance ministry said.

Germany’s DSGV savings banks association backed the government’s plan, saying a temporary ban on short-selling for some bonds and stocks to help calm the market is “sensible”.