NEW YORK, DEC 24 (Reuters) - Short interest on the Nasdaq
rose 0.1 percent in mid-December, the exchange said on
Thursday, suggesting a slight increase in bearish sentiment in
the stock market.
Complete data on short interest from the New York Stock Exchange was not immediately available.
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 December 15.
For a story on Nasdaq short interest please see . For a factbox please see.
WINDSTREAM CORP
Short interest amounted to 12.3 million shares in the company. In the previous period none of the companies shares had been shorted, according to Nasdaq's data.
The company was linked to a possible takeover bid for Qwest Communications International Inc after investment bank UBS upgraded Qwest to 'buy' from 'neutral,' and said the company could be a takeout candidate for one of the rural telephone operators.
In November, Windstream agreed to buy Iowa Telecommunications for $530 million.
About 2.9 percent of its total shares outstanding were shorted.
For more on these stories, see and
COMCAST CORP
Short interest rose 24.2 percent in the company.
Comcast Corp has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co, creating a $30 billion media superpower, but presenting significant integration challenges ahead.
About 54.7 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2.7 percent of its total shares outstanding.
ENERGY XXI (BERMUDA) LTD
Short interest rose 1,783.2 percent in the company.
Independent oil and gas company Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd completed a 90 million common shares offering priced at $1.90 apiece, generating funds to buy assets from a unit of Mitsui & Co Ltd, but diluting existing share holders.
About 5.1 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2 percent of its total shares outstanding.
PALM INC
Short interest rose 6.6 percent in the company.
Palm Inc reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss in mid-December as consumers cooled to its new smartphones in the face of fresh competition including devices based on Google Inc software.
Palm shares fell 7.7 percent after the company revealed its partner Sprint Nextel was selling fewer Pre and Pixi devices than expected and that Palm planned a marketing blitz to stimulate demand.
About 60.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 35.9 percent of its total shares outstanding.
BANK OF AMERICA AND CITIGROUP
Short interest rose 218 percent in BofA and 29.9 percent in Citigroup.
Both companies held stock offerings in December which diluted existing share holders. Citigroup's shares fell to their lowest in four months a day after its offering was priced well below the market. That prompted the U.S. Treasury to delay plans to start selling off its Citi holdings.
Banks of America appointed new chief executive Brian Moynihan after a protracted search. The new CEO faces the challenge of integrating mortgage lender Countrywide Financial and investment bank and wealth manager Merrill Lynch into the company.
About 240.2 million of Bank of America's shares were held short, or 2.8 percent of its total shares outstanding. About 280.5 million of Citi's shares were held short, or about 1 percent of the company's outstanding shares.
(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Diane Craft) Keywords: MARKETS SHORTSTOCKS/ (edward.krudy@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +1 646-223-6314; Reuters Messaging: edward.krudy@reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. 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.
Complete data on short interest from the New York Stock Exchange was not immediately available.
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 December 15.
For a story on Nasdaq short interest please see . For a factbox please see.
WINDSTREAM CORP
Short interest amounted to 12.3 million shares in the company. In the previous period none of the companies shares had been shorted, according to Nasdaq's data.
The company was linked to a possible takeover bid for Qwest Communications International Inc after investment bank UBS upgraded Qwest to 'buy' from 'neutral,' and said the company could be a takeout candidate for one of the rural telephone operators.
In November, Windstream agreed to buy Iowa Telecommunications for $530 million.
About 2.9 percent of its total shares outstanding were shorted.
For more on these stories, see and
COMCAST CORP
Short interest rose 24.2 percent in the company.
Comcast Corp has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co, creating a $30 billion media superpower, but presenting significant integration challenges ahead.
About 54.7 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2.7 percent of its total shares outstanding.
ENERGY XXI (BERMUDA) LTD
Short interest rose 1,783.2 percent in the company.
Independent oil and gas company Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd completed a 90 million common shares offering priced at $1.90 apiece, generating funds to buy assets from a unit of Mitsui & Co Ltd, but diluting existing share holders.
About 5.1 million of the company's shares were held short, or 2 percent of its total shares outstanding.
PALM INC
Short interest rose 6.6 percent in the company.
Palm Inc reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss in mid-December as consumers cooled to its new smartphones in the face of fresh competition including devices based on Google Inc software.
Palm shares fell 7.7 percent after the company revealed its partner Sprint Nextel was selling fewer Pre and Pixi devices than expected and that Palm planned a marketing blitz to stimulate demand.
About 60.2 million of the company's shares were held short, or 35.9 percent of its total shares outstanding.
BANK OF AMERICA AND CITIGROUP
Short interest rose 218 percent in BofA and 29.9 percent in Citigroup.
Both companies held stock offerings in December which diluted existing share holders. Citigroup's shares fell to their lowest in four months a day after its offering was priced well below the market. That prompted the U.S. Treasury to delay plans to start selling off its Citi holdings.
Banks of America appointed new chief executive Brian Moynihan after a protracted search. The new CEO faces the challenge of integrating mortgage lender Countrywide Financial and investment bank and wealth manager Merrill Lynch into the company.
About 240.2 million of Bank of America's shares were held short, or 2.8 percent of its total shares outstanding. About 280.5 million of Citi's shares were held short, or about 1 percent of the company's outstanding shares.
(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Diane Craft) Keywords: MARKETS SHORTSTOCKS/ (edward.krudy@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +1 646-223-6314; Reuters Messaging: edward.krudy@reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. 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.