SEC may extend short-selling restriction

The freeze on short-selling might last longer than announced. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) banned short-selling for 10 days.

"As long as we have that kind of volatility, I'd guess that they'll extend the short-selling restriction. If things settle down, perhaps they'll allow it to expire," says University of Utah Business Professor Elizabeth Tashjian.

She says some of her short-selling friends are in hibernation, not talking. But they do have short-selling options outside the financial sector.

"You can short-sell, for example, retail stocks," she says.

Tashjian says there also is energy, especially if you think retail stocks won't do much this upcoming holiday shopping season.

E-mail: tcallan@ksl.com

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