NYSE Short Interest: Bets Against Financial Firms Rises
February 23, 2008 by Douglas A. McIntyreShort interest in companies traded on the NYSE increased for a number of financial firms based on positions as of February 15. The data compares to numbers on January 31
Shares sold short in Citigroup (NYSE: C) rose 10.9 million shares to 92.8 million. Shares short in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) moved up 6.3 million to 68.8 million. Shares sold short in Wachovia (NYSE: WB) jumped 16.3 million to 96.8 million. Shares short in Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) increased by 8.8 million to 51.8 million.
Other significant short stakes:
Largest positions in shares sold short
Company Shares Short
Ford (NYSE: F) 216.3 million shares short
Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) 148,4 million
Countrywide (NYSE: CFC) 103.1 million
Wachovia 96.8 million
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) 96.5 million
Citigroup 92.8 million
Qwest (NYSE: Q) 92.0 million
AMD (NYSE: AMD) 89.8 million
Micron (NYSE: MU) 80.6 million
Bank of Amerca 68.8 million
Home Depot (NYSE: HD) 65.2 million
GM (NYSE: GM) 63.4 million
EMC (NYSE: EMC) 63.2 million
Largest Increases In Short Position
Washington Mutual 17.6 million increase
Wachovia 16.3 million
Citigroup 10.9 million
CItadel 10.9 million
Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) 9.7 million
Qwest (NYSE:Q) 9.6 million
AT&T (NYSE: T) 9.5 million
Decrease In Short Interest
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) 19.7 million drop
Rite Aid 19.6 million
Countrywide 10.0 million
MBIA (NYSE: MBI) 8.5 million
Mirant 7.4 million
Motorola (NYSE: MOT) 6.5 million
Texas Instrument (NYSE: TXN) 6.5 million
GE (NYSE:GE) 6.5 million
Data from NYSE and WSJ
Douglas A. McIntyre
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