(Updates with New York Stock Exchange data in the first and
fourth paragraphs)
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Short interest in Nasdaq-listed stocks climbed 0.9% in the first
half of March from the second part of February, while in New York
Stock Exchange stocks they fell 0.6%, according to the exchanges'
semi-monthly statistics.
The Nasdaq's short interest totaled 6.56 billion shares of 2,842
Nasdaq securities as of March 15, up from 6.51 billion shares from
2,850 securities as of Feb. 28. The short ratio, or the number of
days' average volume represented by outstanding share positions,
grew to 3.11 days from 3.06 days.
The exchange is part of Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NDAQ).
Later, NYSE Euronext's (NYX) exchange in New York saw short
interest decline to 12.54 billion shares on its stocks, down from
12.61 billion. The latest volume represents 3.28% of the total
number of shares outstanding.
Investors who short shares borrow the stocks and then sell them,
betting that the prices of the shares will fall so the stock can
later be repurchased at a lower price for return to the lender.
Stocks can also be shorted for reasons other than bearish bets,
including hedging strategies.
-By John Kell and Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires;
212-416-2480; john.kell@dowjones.com