Energy

Short Sellers Run for Cover From Major Oil

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The short interest data have been released for the September 15 settlement date. With oil prices seemingly on the slow path to recovery and the Dow and S&P 500 still near highs, short interest is now more important than ever to follow. Although crude oil prices have backed off slightly as of late, these major oil companies have responded in kind.

The September 15 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures, and short interest for the selected oil stocks was largely down.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) saw its short interest increase to 34.37 million shares from the previous reading of 31.26 million. Its shares closed Monday at $98.78, in a 52-week trading range of $75.28 to $107.58.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) had short interest that rose to 54.17 million shares from the previous 51.07 million. Shares closed Monday at $83.06, within a 52-week range of $71.55 to $95.55.

BP PLC (NYSE: BP) short interest decreased to 14.76 million shares from its previous reading of 16.37 million. Shares closed Monday at $33.68, in a 52-week range of $27.01 to $37.53.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) saw the number of its shares short decrease slightly to 16.67 million from the previous level of 16.94 million. Shares closed Monday at $40.02, within a 52-week range of $31.05 to $57.24.

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (NYSE: PBR), or Petrobras, saw its short interest decrease to 77.37 million shares from the previous 81.47 million. Shares closed Monday at $9.01, in a 52-week trading range of $2.71 to $10.24. 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 decreased to 14.26 million shares from the previous reading of 15.34 million. Shares closed most recently at $69.32, in a 52-week trading range of $58.24 to $78.48.

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