NYSE short interest slips 3 percent in late April

NEW YORK May 11 (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange fell three percent in late April, the exchange said on Monday, suggesting a slight decrease in bearish sentiment in the stock market.

As of April 30, short interest fell to about 15.17 billion shares, compared to 15.64 billion shares in the previous period.

Investors who sell securities "short" profit from betting stocks will fall. Short-sellers borrow shares and then sell them, waiting for the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference. (Reporting by Emily Chasan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)