Sprott Asset Management Inc. is asking securities to allow the Sprott Funds to engage in short selling.

Sprott says it believes that short selling can provide the funds with opportunities for gains when markets are volatile or declining.

If approved by regulators, Sprott says short selling will be used by the Sprott Funds as a complement to their primary investment strategy and only within certain limits and constraints.

Sprott has assets under management of over $2.3 billion as of February 1.