The end of the ban, on Wednesday night, is not expected to spark another plunge in the stock market, but some steps remain in place to hem short-sellers.

The end of the ban on short-selling, on Wednesday night, is not expected to spark another plunge in the stock market, but some steps remain in place to hem short-sellers.

Using derivatives called credit-default swaps, traders are making a profit by betting against the finances of the State of New Jersey and other municipalities.

Speculators have long been able to short-sell stocks, making money when share prices fall. But derivatives are now making it possible, in effect, to short municipal bonds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said its temporary emergency action to prohibit short-selling would remain in place to give Congress time to work on a financial rescue package.

Federal regulator’s ban of short sales may have an unintended consequence: reducing the stock market’s efficiency and prolonging the current crisis.

How to keep GE Capital’s financing needs from putting the whole company at risk. Plus, hedge funds that short but can’t be shorted.

Nearly all the major banks and large insurance companies are on the list of companies that regulators are protecting from short-sellers.

Investors were anxiously waiting for lawmakers to hash out the details of the biggest government bailout in history.

Anxiety lingered in the markets as lawmakers hashed out the details of the biggest government bailout in history.