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ARTICLE · 23 APRIL 2026

FCA Publishes Final Rules On The UK’s New Short Selling Regime

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On 16 April 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Policy Statement PS26/5, setting out its final rules and guidance for the UK’s reformed short selling regime.

United KingdomFinance and Banking
Neil Robson
Neil Robson
Christopher Collins
Christopher Collins
Ciara Watson
Ciara Watson
Eleanor Bines
Eleanor Bines
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On 16 April 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Policy Statement PS26/5, setting out its final rules and guidance for the UK’s reformed short selling regime. The new framework, which will take effect on 13 July 2026, replaces the existing regime based on assimilated EU law with bespoke rules in the FCA Handbook, the Short Selling Rules sourcebook (SSR).

Background

The reforms follow HM Treasury’s publication of the Short Selling Regulations 2025 (SSR 2025) in January 2025, which created a new legislative framework for regulating short selling in the UK as part of the government’s programme to repeal and replace retained EU law. The overarching aim is to maintain orderly and effective markets while removing disproportionate costs and burdens that may inhibit or discourage short selling activity. 

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