Freddie Mac-No Politics (FMCC)

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SEC extends the emergency action regarding short sales
The SEC temporary emergency action to prohibit short selling in financial companies has been extended until October 17, 2008. Find out More

The above is from my Ameritrade account home page.
The below is from the Find Out More link

http://www.tdameritrade.com/forms/TDA8147.pdf

PDF contents below:

October 2, 2008
Overview of previous actions
On September 19, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an emergency order temporarily banning the short selling of 799 financial stocks. The order was subsequently amended on September 21. The revised order allows each national securities exchange (e.g. NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ) to include additional financial companies to the list of stocks affected by the ban. Company categories include banks, savings associations, broker-dealers, investment advisors, and insurance companies. For information about the specific companies that were added to the short selling ban, visit the web sites for each exchange.
When is this change effective?
Effective immediately.
Which stocks are included?
The Commission’s temporary ban on short selling will apply to the securities of those financial companies added to the list by the exchanges, as well as the 799 financial companies originally included in the ban September 19. For more information about the SEC’s amendment, go to http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-218.htm.
What happens to my open short positions?
This order only applies to the creation of new short positions.
What happened to my open orders to sell short the affected stocks?
Open orders to sell short have been canceled and clients will not be able to enter new sell short orders at this time.
Are there any exceptions to the rule?
The SEC provided an exception to allow short sales that occur as a result of automatic exercise or assignment of an equity option held prior to effectiveness of this Order due to expiration of the option.
How do the temporary short selling rules affect options trading?
All option trades can be placed as they normally would be; however, there are changes regarding exercise and assignment. Options-approved clients will still be able to buy to open and sell to close long puts, but they will not be able to exercise puts unless they are holding the underlying stock. Also, clients assigned on an uncovered short call may not be able to hold the resulting short equity position and we may be required to buy to cover without notification.*
*Shares must be available for loan either through an internal inventory or through agreements that are in place with external brokerage firms. The risk of loss with short positions is potentially unlimited and you may be required to cover your short position at an unfavorable price. There is no guarantee that TD AMERITRADE can continue a short position for an unlimited time.
How long will this be in effect?
The SEC’s temporary emergency order has been extended until 11:59pm ET on October 17, 2008.
For more information about the SEC’s original temporary emergency order, go to www.sec.gov.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for everyone as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially rapid and substantial losses. Prior to engaging in trades involving options, you should carefully read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.
TD AMERITRADE, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. TD AMERITRADE is a trademark jointly owned by TD AMERITRADE IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. © 2008 TD AMERITRADE IP Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.