On August 11, the financial regulators in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain introduced short selling restrictions on shares of certain named financial institutions and derivatives (e.g., futures) linked to those securities. The restrictions also extend to stock indices of which those securities are components.

The Belgian restrictions apply indefinitely. The three other countries’ restrictions will expire after 15 days, unless extended. Earlier that week, Greece imposed a two-month ban on short sales of all listed securities.