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Course of the video game manufacturer Gamestop (archive image): Stock market quake with aftermath
Photo: DADO RUVIC / REUTERS
On the one hand a flash mob of small investors, on the other hand professional funds from Wall Street: In February price bets on the shares of the video game chain Gamestop made headlines worldwide, and German investors also got involved.
In response to the gamestop turbulence and the collapse of the Archegos hedge fund, the US Securities and Exchange Commission now wants to tighten the reins - and regulate the stock market more closely.
Among other things, the authority is considering tightening the notification requirements for so-called short sales and securities lending, said the new SEC boss Gary Gensler according to the speech in a hearing before the US Congress.
When selling short, investors borrow stocks to sell immediately.
They hope to be able to stock up on the papers more cheaply by the return date.
The new head of the stock market supervisory authority also claims to collect information on how trading apps use video game-like means to tempt small investors into speculative transactions.
Some of these apps incite the ambition of their users with point systems or competitions.
Gensler is considered a strict regulator.
He earned this reputation as head of the US derivatives regulator between 2009 and 2014.
mic / Reuters