FSA Places Temporary Ban on the Short Selling of Four Italian Stocks

Following the decision of the Italian Consob to temporarily prohibit the short selling of shares in Banco Popolare, Mediolanum, Banca Carige and Intesa, the FSA has decided to prohibit the short selling of these shares on UK trading venues as of February 27, 2013.

The FSA has justified this decision as an attempt to prevent both disorderly falls in the prices of these shares and additional significant price falls in the wake of inconclusive election results in Italy.