NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 4.4 percent in mid-August, the exchange said on Monday.
As of Aug. 15, short interest rose to about 16.825 billion shares, compared with 16.110 billion shares as of July 31.
Investors who sell securities short borrow shares and then sell them, expecting the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference.