small gains compared to the rest, page-4

good luck with your shorting -

2129 GMT [Dow Jones] In a move likely to disappoint some in the industry, particularly hedge funds, ASIC has elected to extend its ban on covered short selling on non-financial stocks for a further 28 days with the ban on financial stocks to be continued until Jan. 29, 2009. News comes as a bit of a surprise, given the U.S. let its ban expire earlier this month and pressure from the investment industry amid concern the blanket prohibition has aggravated share market volatility. ASIC Chairman Tony D'Aloisio says market conditions since the bans were imposed remained difficult. "The financial markets are still fragile, so we feel the reopening of covered short sales should be done in stages and in a measured way over an extended period and have regard to systemic issues, particularly for financial stocks," D'Aloisio says. Other jurisdictions such as the U.K. are maintaining bans on financial stocks. (SVM)