Even FTSE considers tougher rules

It is a measure of the volatility of the current financial situation that not only the regulators but also a private company like the FTSE (a joint venture between the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange) is considering beefing up its rules.

This follows alarm at the increasing number of overseas companies seeking listings on the FTSE 500 and all-share indices, while allowing 75% or more of shares to remain in private hands.

The concern is that companies with only a small proportion of shares in public hands there is a potential governance problem and hence a risk to investors — especially for tracker funds that may be forced into buying shares in order to track a particular sector.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b5118b76-047d-11e1-ac2a-00144feabdc0.html

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