Commodities & Metals

Gold-Mining Stocks See Some Big Short Interest Moves

studiocasper / Getty Images

In the two-week short interest reporting period that ended October 15, the price of gold slipped by about 2.9%. For the year to date, gold futures have gained nearly 25% and posted an all-time high at $2,089.20 in July. Early Monday, the yellow metal traded at around $1,909 per ounce.

Short interest decreased on three of five gold-mining stocks and on two of three gold exchange-traded funds in the two-weeks that ended October 15.

Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM) saw short interest jump by 18% to 9.6 million shares, which represents about 1.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at two. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price slipped by about 0.7%. Its 52-week range is $33.00 to $72.22 and shares traded at $62.70 on Tuesday.

Barrick Gold Corp.’s (NYSE: GOLD) short interest fell by 8% in the two-week period. About 15.7 million shares were short, less than 1% of the miner’s total float. Days to cover remained at one. Shares dropped by about 1.3% in the period, and the stock traded at $26.66 on Tuesday. The stock’s 52-week range is $12.65 to $31.22.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) short sellers dumped about 8% of their positions over the two-week period. Some 31.6 million shares were short, or about 2.2% of the stock’s float. Shares traded at $17.60 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $4.82 to $18.67. The stock jumped by about 10% in the two weeks to October 15. Days to cover remained at two.

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE: AEM) saw short interest increase by 2% in the first half of October. About 1.2% (2.9 million) of the company’s shares were short. Days to cover remained at three. Shares traded Tuesday at $79.60, in a 52-week range of $31.00 to $89.23. The stock price increased by about 4.1% during the short interest reporting period.

Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC) added about 4.7% to its share price during the two-weeks through October 15. Short interest plunged by 24% to about 10.8 million shares, or 0.9% of the stock’s float. Days to cover remained at one. Shares traded at $8.60 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $2.72 to $10.32.

The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: GDX) saw short interest rise by 2% in the two-week period to 43.6 million shares. Days to cover remained at two. The share price rose by about 2.9% during the reporting period and traded Tuesday at $38.38. The 52-week range is $16.18 to $45.78.

The VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: GDXJ) saw short interest decrease by 4% to 6.2 million shares. Days to cover increased from one to two. Shares increased by about 5.7% during the two weeks. The 52-week range is $19.52 to $65.95, and shares traded at $55.45 on Tuesday.

SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA: GLD) saw short interest plummet by nearly 34% during the two week period to 7.9 million shares. The share price increased by about 1% during the two-week period. The 52-week range is $136.12 to $194.45, and shares traded Tuesday at $178.99.

The Average American Is Losing Their Savings Every Day (Sponsor)

If you’re like many Americans and keep your money ‘safe’ in a checking or savings account, think again. The average yield on a savings account is a paltry .4% today, and inflation is much higher. Checking accounts are even worse.

Every day you don’t move to a high-yield savings account that beats inflation, you lose more and more value.

But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying 9-10x this national average. That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe, and get paid at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other one time cash bonuses, and is FDIC insured.

Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes and your money could be working for you.

 

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.