Short Interest Rises on NYSE

NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange increased by 2.4 percent in mid-December, according to the exchange's report on Tuesday.

As of Dec. 13, short interest reached approximately 16.155 billion shares, up from 15.784 billion shares as recorded on Nov. 29.

Investors engaging in short selling borrow shares and sell them, anticipating a price decline that allows them to repurchase the shares at a lower price, return them to the lender, and profit from the difference.