NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Short interest fell on the Nasdaq
and on the New York Stock Exchange in mid-December, reflecting a
decrease in bearish sentiment and a desire by short-sellers to
lock in profits.
Short interest fell 3.1 percent on the New York Stock Exchange from late November to mid-December, while on the Nasdaq it fell
3.3 percent over the same period. In the previous two
week period, short interest rose on both exchanges.
The following list shows stocks that saw increased interest from short sellers, who bet that a certain stock's price will fall, and key recent news events for those stocks. The data reflect short trades with a settlement date of Dec. 15.
For full story please see.
MACY'S INC
Short interest rose 44.9 percent in the company.
The weekly sales index of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs found on Dec. 9 that chain store sales in the week after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday had fallen 0.8 percent over a year earlier, casting a shadow on consumer spending.
About 40.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 9.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
SAFEWAY INC
Short interest rose 25.2 percent in the company.
After rival grocery store chain Kroger Co forecast quarterly earnings below Wall Street estimates on Dec. 9, its shares fell 6.7 percent and dragged down those of its rivals, including Safeway, which also fell 6.7 percent.
About 11.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
BED BATH & BEYOND INC
Short interest rose 25.3 percent in the company.
S&P equity research cut the price target of the home furnishings chain on Dec 3.
About 21.4 million of the company's shares were held short, or 8.3 percent of its total shares outstanding.
DOLLAR TREE
Short interest rose 21.9 percent in the company.
The discount retailer's shares fell 2.6 percent on Dec. 5 after rival Big Lots Inc reported that third-quarter earnings fell from the prior year and cut its fourth-quarter sales outlook.
About 9.9 million of the company's shares were held short, or 10.9 percent of its total shares outstanding.
NOKIA CORP
Short interest rose 40.5 percent in the company.
On Dec. 4, the cellphone maker said sales of mobile phones are shrinking faster than expected as consumers cut spending, its second warning within a three-week period.
About 22.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 0.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
JOHNSON CONTROLS INC
Short interest rose 52.2 percent in the company.
On Dec. 4, the chief operating officer of the auto parts maker told the U.S. Senate that a failure by one of the major U.S. automakers would cause a 'significant' number of supplier failures, though he said his company could 'weather this storm.' . On Dec. 16, the company said it expected a loss for the current quarter and withdrew its profit outlook.
About 10 million of the company's shares were held short, or 1.7 percent of its total shares outstanding.
DOW CHEMICAL CO
Short interest rose 24.8 percent in the company.
On Dec. 8, the chemical company said it would close facilities and cut 5,000 jobs in an effort to cut costs.
About 18.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2 percent of its total shares outstanding.
JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
Short interest rose 25.5 percent in the company.
The network equipment maker's executive vice president said on Dec. 2 that the pricing pressure in his industry remained 'intense' amid an economic slowdown..
About 24.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 4.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
(Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) Keywords: MARKETS SHORTSTOCKS/ (phil.wahba@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 6128; Reuters Messaging: phil.wahba.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Short interest fell 3.1 percent on the New York Stock Exchange from late November to mid-December, while on the Nasdaq it fell
3.3 percent over the same period. In the previous two
week period, short interest rose on both exchanges.
The following list shows stocks that saw increased interest from short sellers, who bet that a certain stock's price will fall, and key recent news events for those stocks. The data reflect short trades with a settlement date of Dec. 15.
For full story please see.
MACY'S INC
Short interest rose 44.9 percent in the company.
The weekly sales index of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs found on Dec. 9 that chain store sales in the week after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday had fallen 0.8 percent over a year earlier, casting a shadow on consumer spending.
About 40.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 9.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
SAFEWAY INC
Short interest rose 25.2 percent in the company.
After rival grocery store chain Kroger Co forecast quarterly earnings below Wall Street estimates on Dec. 9, its shares fell 6.7 percent and dragged down those of its rivals, including Safeway, which also fell 6.7 percent.
About 11.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
BED BATH & BEYOND INC
Short interest rose 25.3 percent in the company.
S&P equity research cut the price target of the home furnishings chain on Dec 3.
About 21.4 million of the company's shares were held short, or 8.3 percent of its total shares outstanding.
DOLLAR TREE
Short interest rose 21.9 percent in the company.
The discount retailer's shares fell 2.6 percent on Dec. 5 after rival Big Lots Inc reported that third-quarter earnings fell from the prior year and cut its fourth-quarter sales outlook.
About 9.9 million of the company's shares were held short, or 10.9 percent of its total shares outstanding.
NOKIA CORP
Short interest rose 40.5 percent in the company.
On Dec. 4, the cellphone maker said sales of mobile phones are shrinking faster than expected as consumers cut spending, its second warning within a three-week period.
About 22.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 0.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
JOHNSON CONTROLS INC
Short interest rose 52.2 percent in the company.
On Dec. 4, the chief operating officer of the auto parts maker told the U.S. Senate that a failure by one of the major U.S. automakers would cause a 'significant' number of supplier failures, though he said his company could 'weather this storm.' . On Dec. 16, the company said it expected a loss for the current quarter and withdrew its profit outlook.
About 10 million of the company's shares were held short, or 1.7 percent of its total shares outstanding.
DOW CHEMICAL CO
Short interest rose 24.8 percent in the company.
On Dec. 8, the chemical company said it would close facilities and cut 5,000 jobs in an effort to cut costs.
About 18.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2 percent of its total shares outstanding.
JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
Short interest rose 25.5 percent in the company.
The network equipment maker's executive vice president said on Dec. 2 that the pricing pressure in his industry remained 'intense' amid an economic slowdown..
About 24.3 million of the company's shares were held short, or 4.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.
(Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) Keywords: MARKETS SHORTSTOCKS/ (phil.wahba@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223 6128; Reuters Messaging: phil.wahba.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.