Three associations representing fund managers in Australia, the UK and US have joined forces to warn that their industry would be damaged if market regulators publish detailed information on short selling trading positions.

Australia's Investment and Financial Services Association, the Investment Company Institute of the US and the Investment Management Association of the UK, whose members collectively have more than US$15,000bn under management, are concerned that if details on short selling are made publicly available too quickly, it will encourage other investors to mimic its members' trading strategies.