The FSA has warned that it will not tolerate close relationships between companies and market analysts.
It warned that companies could be committing “market abuse” if they tried to cultivate favoured analysts or froze out other over negative forecasts.
“For issuers to cultivate favoured analysts or banks, or to freeze out perceived sources of negative news, is unacceptable behaviour,” it said.
“Issuers should not develop special relationships with selected analysts or take measures to keep analysts ‘in line'.”
The warning was issued following a consultation with the industry over handling potential conflicts of interest. The consultation was set up in the wake of the dotcom boom.
The regulator said analysts on the receiving end of pressure should complain to managers or go directly to the regulator.
