Mixed Short Seller Trends in High-Priced NASDAQ Favorites (AMZN, AAPL, BIDU, FFIV, FSLR, GOOG, NFLX, PCLN, QCOM, WYNN)

The short sellers are showing some mixed convictions in many of NASDAQ’s high-priced shares that are favorites of traders.  The settlement date of April 15, 2011 is compared to the March 31, 2011 settlement date and we have added in color on each of the following: Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU), F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN), QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), and Wynn Resorts Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN).

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) saw a gain again to 8.26 million shares in the short interest as of April 15 versus 7.277 million shares short at the end of March.  This is the highest reading in about two months when the short interest was over 9.7 million shares.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) saw a slight drop, but almost not worth noting if you just look at the period-over-period change.  At April 15 that was 11.546 million shares in the short interest versus 11.63 milllion shares at the end of March.  This was actually the second highest short interest since the end of September.

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) saw a big drop in the short interest… That fell to 5.036 million shares in the April 15 short interest versus 5.906 million shares at the end of March.

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) saw an increase after three straight drops in its short interest.  This was 3.712 million shares short at April 15 versus 3.185 milllion shares at th end of March.  Before this, the short selling activity in F5 was the lowest reading since last May.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) posted a third straight increase in the short interest, although it was moderate in the gain.  April 15 settlement date had a short interest of 16.017 million shares versus 15.919 million shares short at the end of March.  That is the highest short interest for First Solar in about three months.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) saw another small drop in short selling.  The short interest was 3.392 million shares as of April 15 versus 3.435 million shares at the end of March. This is still the second lowest reading of 2011.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) saw a marginal drop in short selling.  The April 15 short interest was 10.341 million shares, down only marginally from the end of March when the short interest was 10.49 milllion shares. Netflix continues to have no real pattern in the short selling.

Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN) saw another small increase in the short interest. At April 15 that came to 4.193 million shares in the short interest versus 4.111 million shares.  This is actually again the highest level since last July.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) showed a decent increase in short selling but it is still way off the highs of short selling.  April 15 showed that 18.932 million shares were in the short interest versus 17.753 million shares at the end of March. Keep in mind that this was a short interest of 35.2 million shares in mid-February.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN) saw a small up-tick in short selling… April 15 was 2.948 million shares versus 2.809 milllion shares at the end of March.

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JON C. OGG