SEBI permits Liquid Index ‘ETFs’ trading in short selling market

23 Nov 2012 Evaluate

As part of changes in the securities lending and borrowing framework, market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), on Nov 22 permitted ‘liquid’ Index Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track indices to trade in the short selling market, eligible for trading in the Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) segment. Earlier, SEBI had allowed only securities traded in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment for lending and borrowing of securities.

However, SEBI conditioned that Index ETF would be considered 'liquid', only if it has traded on at least 80 per cent of the days over the past six months. Another criteria for the consideration was that the particular Liquid Index ETF's impact cost over the past six months is less than or equal to one per cent.

Positions limits for SLB in respect of ETFs shall be based on the assets under management of the respective ETF, SEBI added. Further, the regulator has introduced roll-over facility for lenders and borrowers in the SLB segment that pertains to short selling in the market. However, rollover would not be permitted for netting of counter positions, netting between the borrowed and lent positions of a client. Moreover, roll-over shall be available for a period of three months, which implies to be the original contract plus two rollover contracts.

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