Investing

November NYSE Short Interest: Not Pretty For Financials

Short interest for stocks traded on the NYSE was up about 3% for the period ending November 15 compared to the October 31 numbers. Bets against big financials sky-rocketed, and positions in some retailers jumped.

The shares sold short in Washington Mutual (WM) jumped 12.3 million to 74.6 million. Wells Fargo (WFC) shares sold short moved up almost six million to 53.7 million

The short position in Wal-Mart (WMT) spiked to 7.4 million to 51.6 million and Home Depot’s (HD) was up 5.6 million to 63 million.

Largest Short Positions

Company                                         Shares Short

Ford (F)                                           164.4 million

Countrywide (CFC)                           112.5 million

Washington Mutual                            74.6 million

AMD (AMD)                                       68.2 million

CVS                                                  67.6 million

Qwest (Q)                                          66.7 million

Home Depot                                       63.0 million

GE                                                    61.6 million

Time Warner                                      61.3 million

Best Buy                                           59.1 million

Source: NYSE

Douglas A. McIntyre

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