Surge in U.S. Short-Seller Picks Is Hardly One-Day Wonder
Monday’s swings in U.S. stocks favored by short sellers followed a show of strength that started months ago. This trend is evident from a Goldman Sachs gauge of companies in the Russell 3000 Index with the highest percentage of available shares borrowed and sold, or short interest. The ratio between Goldman’s indicator and the Russell 3000 more than doubled from a low in April, according to data compiled by Bloomberg that goes back to 2008. The surge accelerated Friday and Monday as the ratio climbed by a total of 8%, its biggest two-day advance in 7 1/2 years.