Technology

Short Sellers Back Off Major Semiconductors

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The short interest data have come out for the December 30 settlement date. It is important to note that semiconductor trends are considered to be leading indicators of technology and broader electronics demand. A strong rally in the tech sector largely pushed many of these companies to new highs, as the Dow and S&P are both trading near all-time highs.

The December 30 short interest data have been compared with the previous report. Short interest moves were down in most of these selected semiconductor stocks.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) saw its short interest increase to 79.38 million shares. The previous level was 78.62 million. Shares were last seen trading at $36.63, in a 52-week trading range of $27.68 to $38.36.

The number of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) shares short increased to 86.62 million shares from the previous level of 82.81 million. Shares were recently trading at $10.94, in a 52-week range of $1.75 to $12.42. Note that like Intel and Micron, AMD is one of the most shorted Nasdaq stocks.

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) saw the number of its shares short decrease to 14.34 million, compared to the 18.23 million reported in the previous period. Shares were changing hands at $65.60, in a 52-week range of $42.24 to $71.62.

Short interest in Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) dropped to 13.94 million shares. The previous reading was 14.51 million. Shares were trading at $33.20, in a 52-week range of $15.44 to $33.68.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) saw its short interest decrease to 55.14 million shares from the previous reading of 57.00 million. Shares were trading at $22.31, in a 52-week range of $9.31 to $23.64.

The short interest in Broadcom Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO) fell to 3.22 million shares in the period, from the previous 4.68 million. Shares were last seen at $177.34, in a 52-week range of $114.25 to $183.99.

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