Some Policy Implications of Single-Stock Futures

Abstract

On Dec. 15, 2000, Congress approved the use of single-stock futures. This essay analyzes some of the policy issues related to that approval. In particular, I discuss (1) the benefits and costs of margin rules applicable to single-stock futures, (2) the amendments to the securities laws to cover single-stock futures in areas such as insider trading and market manipulation, and (3) some potential benefits associated with the use of single-stock futures to avoid restrictions on shorting stock (e.g., the elimination of so-called "parent-subsidiary" anomalies, as when 3Com was worth less than Palm even though 3Com owned 95 percent of Palm's stock).