More than two-thirds of the financial stocks in which UK regulators banned short-selling a fortnight ago have risen since the rule changes, beating the overall performance of major stock markets over the same period.

Figures compiled by Financial News show that from the close of trading on September 18 - the last day before new rules came into force ordering disclosure of existing short positions and outlawing fresh shorting - shares in 24 of the 34 financial companies included on the list had risen by yesterday's market close, while 10 have fallen.