UPDATE 2-World's largest pension fund halts stock lending to short sellers

3 Dec by Vitaliy Dadalyan

UPDATE 2-World's largest pension fund halts stock lending to short sellers

UPDATE 2-World's largest pension fund halts stock lending to short sellersJapan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s largest pension fund, has suspended stock lending for short selling, calling the practice inconsistent with its responsibilities as a long-term investor. The move, announced by the GPIF on Tuesday, is a blow for short sellers, who rely on securities lending to bet against companies and who are facing renewed moves in a number of countries to curb their activities. “The current stock lending scheme lacks transparency in terms of who is the ultimate borrower and for what purpose they are borrowing,” the GPIF said on its website.