] CNBC, the financial cable TV network owned by General
] Electric Co., has tightened its rules for its employees
] and their families on owning stocks and bonds. CNBC
] currently allows employees to own individual stocks
] and bonds as long as they keep them for at least four
] months. In addition, reporters, editors and management
] had extra limitations including a requirement that any
] transaction of 500 shares or more, or with a value of
] $20,000 or more, be approved by the company's legal
] department.
]
] The company also conducted random audits and required
] on-air personalities to disclose any personal stock
] holdings whenever they mentioned the company on air.
] Speculative trades such as short-selling were also
] prohibited. Under the new rules, CNBC will require its
] news staff and management to either liquidate all
] holdings of individual stocks and bonds by next
] Jan. 1 or place them in a blind trust. The new rules
] will also apply to spouses, dependents and relatives
] of CNBC employees who live in the same household.

That bites if you work there!