Investors Reduce Financial Shorts But Increase Bets Against Consumer Stocks

Consumer stocks  new active shorting

As markets continue their steady grind higher, and volatility remains suppressed, shorts are giving up their crusade against equities.

According to TwoRivers Analytics’ monthly short report for April, the market value of short interest was flat over the past 30 days although new active shorting decreased by $10.4 billion during the period.

New active shorting - Investors Reduce Financial bets

The strongest short activity was seen in Consumer Services, Technology Services and Consumer Durables where net new active shorting increased by around $2 billion for each sector respectively. The only sectors that saw an increase in net new shorting activity during the month were the three listed above plus the Communications, Utilities and Commercial...