The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has amended its directives on margin trading (or secured financing as it is called in the region) to improve the regulatory environment for more flexibility in trading operations. This move is expected to enhance the investment environment and boost trading volumes in the Muscat Securities Market (MSM). In a statement on the CMA website, H E Abdullah al Salmi, executive president of CMA, said the amendments aim to expand the base of licensed companies dealing in secured financing and to include listed companies of regular and parallel markets of the MSM. Earlier, brokerage companies were allowed to provide secured financing for trading in only MSM30 index companies. The amount a licensed brokerage company can offer as secured financing to a single client has been increased to OMR500,000 from OMR250,000, provided that the sum is not more than 15% of the funds a licensed company provides as secured financing. (Muscat Daily)