Short seller Andrew Left will launch an appeal against a ruling in Hong Kong that banned him from trading in the city for five years after publishing a negative report on Chinese property developer Evergrande.
The appeal in the controversial case, which has dragged on since 2012, will seek to overturn the ruling on the grounds of freedom of speech, and will set the tone for short-selling activity in one of the world’s largest public equity markets.
Companies such as Moody’s have faced legal repercussions in Hong Kong after publishing negative information on Chinese groups, in cases that investors and commentators have said will have a chilling effect on the market.