short interest
noun[U]
STOCK MARKET,FINANCEukusthetotalnumberorvalueofsharessoldbypeoplewho haveborrowedthem because theyexpecttobuythem back at alowerpricein thefutureand make aprofitfrom thedifference:
In themonthto mid-January,shortinterestdropped4.8% to 740.4 millionsharesfrom 777.4 million.