Hedge fund manager Man Group has asked the UK regulator to include its shares on a list of companies investors cannot take fresh short positions even as the proportion of its stocks being lent hit a two-year low.

The UK-listed hedge fund manager discussed with the Financial Services Authority the possibility of it being included on the regulator's roster of financial company shares in which investors cannot take fresh short positions, or add to existing short positions. The number of companies included on the list would rise to 35 if Man was included.