Shorts Push Back Into Tech And Communications

Short sellers pushed into tech, communications, and industrial companies for the period ending March 15, but largely moved out of financial shares.

Short interest in Cisco (CSCO) was up 12% to 53.7 million. Shares sold short in Ciena (CIEN) rose 45% to 22.6 million. The short interest in Seagate (STX) was up 15% to 27.8% and shares sold short in Micron (MU) rose 7% to 54.8 million. Shares short in Akamia (AKAM) were up 23% to 22.3 million. The short interest in Clearwire (CLWR) was up 15% to 20.8 million. Share short in Comcast (CMCSA) rose 5% to 57.3 million.

Big tech service providers and PC chip did better than the infrastructure firms. The short interest in Oracle (ORCL) fell 9% to 34 million. Shares short in Intel (INTC) dropped 6% to 54.3 million and the short interest in Nvidia (NVDA) dropped 12% to 28.2 million.

Among the financials, shares short in Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) were down 39% to 34.9 million. Bank of America (BAC) short interest fell 13% to 105.5 million. Shares short in Visa (V) dropped 14% to 19.3 million.

The big industrials suffered a setback. Share short in Ford (F) were up 8% to 191 million. Shares short in Schlumberger (SLB) were up 50% to 44.3 million. Shares short in Alcoa (AA) were higher by 14% to 80.2 million.

Data from NYSE and NASDAQ.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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