The short interest data have come out for the May 15 settlement date. It is important to note that semiconductor trends are considered to be leading indicators of technology and broader electronics demand. Chip makers with a solid position in the mobile space continue to advance, and the world’s largest semiconductor maker is also strong as demand for desktops and laptops has been better than expected.

Overall investors are appearing more aggressive for semiconductor stocks as most of this sample has seen its short levels increase. The May 15 short interest data have been compared with the previous figures.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) saw its short interest increase to 110.43 million shares. The previous level was 108.47 million. Shares closed Wednesday at $33.71, in a 52-week trading range of $26.72 to $37.90.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD) had its short interest increase about 10.2% to 119.56 million shares. The previous level was 108.50 million. Shares of AMD closed Wednesday at $2.28, in a 52-week trading range of $2.14 to $4.80.

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) saw its short interest increase only slightly to 19.61 million, compared to the previous period, in which 19.17 million shares were reported short. Currently this is the near some of the highest readings within the past year. Qualcomm shares closed Wednesday at $71.02, in a 52-week trading range of $62.26 to $81.97.

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Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) saw its short interest for the May 15 settlement date decline handily to 26.10 million shares. The previous reading was 48.99 million. The previous reading dropped from one of the top five of the highest short interest readings within the past 52-weeks to the lowest reading. Shares closed Wednesday at $20.34, in a 52-week trading range of $18.63 to $25.71.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) saw its short interest fall to 67.90 million shares from the previous reading of 72.22 million. Short interest is currently at its second lowest level on the year. Shares of Micron closed Wednesday at $28.13, in a 52-week range of $25.61 to $36.59.

SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ: SNDK) was one of the chip stocks that had its short interest increase in May. The most recent reading was 17.22 million shares, compared to the previous reading of 16.07 million. Shares closed Wednesday at $69.01, in a 52-week trading range of $63.00 to $108.77.

Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) saw its short interest increase by about 20% to 9.35 million shares, versus the previous short interest level of 7.77 million. Note that Broadcom has just only entered into an agreement with Avago to be purchased for $37 billion. Shares closed Wednesday at $57.15, in a 52-week range of $31.35 to $57.70.

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