PARIS - France, Italy, Spain and Belgium will ban the short-selling of stocks from Friday, European market regulator ESMA said on Thursday.
The European Securities and Markets Authority also said it will crack down on market participants who spread rumors and false or misleading news.
The regulator said the EU's Market Abuse Directive prohibits the dissemination of information which gives misleading signals about financial instruments and that European authorities will take a firm stance against any abuse.
