Sharp Increase In Short Bets On Big Financial Firms

Short interest in a number of financial stocks moved up very sharply for the period ending August 29. Shares short in Washington Mutual (WM) rose 12% to 383 million. Short interest in Fannie Mae (FNM) was up 29% to 183 million shares. Shares short in Ambac (ABK) were up 9% to 91 million. Short interest in AIG (AIG) was also up 9% to 86 million. shares.

Shares short in Wells Fargo (WFC) moved up 6% to 176 million.

The short interest in most tech shares fell. Share short in Intel (INTC) fell 17% to 69 million. Short interest in Microsoft (MSFT) fell 11% to 45 million. Shares short in Sun (JAVA) fell 18% to 37 million. Shares short in Marvel dropped 22% to 27 million.

Other notable moves included an increase of shares short in Nvidia (NVDA) of 110% to 47 million and an increase of 10% of shares sold short in Sirius XM (SIRI) to 232 million

Data from NYSE and Nasdaq

Douglas A. McIntyre