Short-selling no longer a concern: FinMin official

Short-selling, which some believe is one of the causes for depressing cash segments of equity markets, is no longer a concern following market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India's recent measures, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday.

"Short-selling is no more a concern, as Sebi has taken steps in this regard," the official said.

Short-selling refers to selling of stocks not owned by seller at the time of selling.

Sebi recently expressed its disapproval to stock lending by foreign institutional investors to overseas entities, which could in turn use them for short selling. It has also asked FIIs to submit data in this regard. FIIs have already submitted data for six days.

FIIs

position in respect to this transaction would be reversed in a few days, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said recently.

However, Sebi chairman C B Bhave on Wednesday skirted the issue.

"I have no comments at this stage. Whenever decisions are made, they will be communicated to you. I have no comments to make at all," he told reporters to a query on short-selling.

Bhave was talking to reporters after Chidambaram held a high-level meeting to discuss India's stand on the G-20 meeting on financial crisis next month. 

The official also said external commercial borrowing norms have already been relaxed and only issue pending in regard to raising funds abroad is the pricing norms for GDR and ADR.