This is the most bazaar thing I ever heard... I can't believe we call ourselves a "capitalist" society :) I mean why would we even let to sell stocks at all, let's only allow to buy and hold...

SEC Plans to Temporarily Ban Short-Selling

From WSJ.com

WASHINGTON -- The Securities and Exchange Commission took its most aggressive assault against bearish stock bets by stating its intention to issue a temporary ban on short-selling.

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox briefed Congress late Thursday of the agency's intention to take the extraordinary step of interfering with the market's regular functioning. Short-selling is a trading strategy of selling borrowed stock in hopes it falls and can be repurchased at a lower price.