Investing

NYSE Short Interest, Numbers For Some Financial Improve

Short interest in financial stocks generally fell in NYSE figures for January 31. Numbers compare to January 15.

Shares sold short in Countrywide (NYSE: CFC) fell 52.7 million to 114.2 million. Shares short in Citigroup (NYSE: C) fell 20.6 million to 82 million. But, shares sold short in Bank of American (NYSE: BAC) rose 16.3 million to to 62.5 million. Shares short in Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) moved up 16 million to 100.1 million.

Largest Short Positions

Company                                       Shares Sold Short

Ford (F)                                         209.3 million

Washington Mutual (WM)               130.9 million

Countrywide                                  114.2 million

Wells Fargo                                  100.1 million

AMD (AMD)                                    89.7 million

Qwest (Q)                                      82.4 million

Citigroup                                        82.0 million

Wachovia (WB)                              80.9 million

Largest Increases In Shares Sold Short

Ford                                             54.5 million increase

Bank of America                           16.3 million

Well Fargo                                   16.0 million

GE(GE)                                       12.0 million

Texas Intruments (TXN)                 10.8 million

EMC (EMC)                                  8.3 million

Largest Decrease In Shares Sold Short

Company                                     Decrease In Shares Short

Countrywide                                 52.7 million decrease

Citigroup                                      20.6 million

CVS Caremark                             12.8 million

Motorola (MOT)                            10.9 million

Time Warner (TWX)                      10.0 million

Data from NYSE and WSJ

Douglas A. McIntyre

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