Europe’s trading and hedge fund firms are calling for a removal of the temporary short selling bans issued in several countries from March, in response to the market volatility triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

The trade bodies calling for the repeal represent hundreds of top firms — including the likes of Citco, Man Group, State Street, Guotai Junan Securities, Citadel, Bridgewater Associates and Marshall Wace — who say a removal of the ban is crucial to improving market efficiency and preventing further damage to investor portfolios as a result of the pandemic.