Energy

Major Oil Boom Shocks Short Sellers

Chris Lange

Published: May 10, 2018 11:45 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 11:49 pm

Crude oil is finally back above $70 a barrel after suffering for a while. Before this, oil had not been at this price level in over two years. Crude only reached above $70 this past week but the question remains whether it will stay. Recent Middle East tensions have helped push the price higher as well. The current crude price still pales in comparison to what it was in 2014.

The April 30 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures, and short interest in most of these selected big oil stocks decreased.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) saw its short interest decrease to 20.99 million shares from the previous reading of 22.93 million. The shares were last seen trading at $129.15, in a 52-week range of $102.55 to $133.88.

Short interest in Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) decreased to 28.99 million shares from the previous 31.74 million. The stock traded at $81.30, within a 52-week range of $72.16 to $89.30.

BP PLC (NYSE: BP) short interest fell to 5.40 million shares from the previous reading of 7.95 million. Shares traded at $45.90, in a 52-week range of $33.90 to $46.85.

The number of ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) shares short fell to 21.01 million from the previous level of 24.44 million. Shares were trading at $69.15, within a 52-week range of $42.27 to $70.15.

Short interest at Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (NYSE: PBR), or Petrobras, decreased to 32.43 million shares from the previous 34.35 million. The stock traded at $15.95 a share, in a 52-week range of $7.61 to $15.77. Unfortunately, Petrobras may be trading on an entirely different set of fundamentals and sentiment due to its ongoing woes in Brazil.

Occidental Petroleum Corp.’s (NYSE: OXY) short interest increased to 11.05 million shares from the previous reading of 10.74 million. Shares recently traded at $83.20, in a 52-week range of $57.84 to $84.28.

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