ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) has lowered, as from today, the threshold for mandatory reporting of net short positions to the financial market supervisors, including the FSMA. This measure was taken after consultation with the European financial market supervisors in the light of the developments on the European securities markets. The decision has been published on the ESMA website.
At the moment, the rule in Europe was that net short positions of more than 0.2 per cent had to be reported to the national competent authorities. That threshold has been lowered to 0.1 per cent, in order to enable those authorities to monitor developments on the financial markets. The measure applies as from the end of today’s trading day and will be in effect for three months, and may be extended if necessary.