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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