Short Stocks: Bets build against Windstream, Comcast

NEW YORK, DEC 24 (Reuters) - Short interest on the Nasdaq
rose 0.1 percent in mid-December, the exchange said on
Thursday, suggesting a slight increase in bearish sentiment in
the stock market.

Complete data on short interest from the New York Stock
Exchange was not immediately available.

The following list shows stocks that saw increased interest
from short sellers, who bet that a certain stock's price will
fall, and key recent news events for those stocks. The data
reflect short trades with a settlement date of December 15.

For a story on Nasdaq short interest please see
[ID:nnN24189673]. For a factbox please see [ID:nnN24190746].

WINDSTREAM CORP (WIN.O)

Short interest amounted to 12.3 million shares in the
company. In the previous period none of the companies shares
had been shorted, according to Nasdaq's data.

The company was linked to a possible takeover bid for Qwest
Communications International Inc Q.N after investment bank
UBS upgraded Qwest to "buy" from "neutral," and said the
company could be a takeout candidate for one of the rural
telephone operators.

In November, Windstream agreed to buy Iowa
Telecommunications IWA.N for $530 million.

About 2.9 percent of its total shares outstanding were
shorted.

For more on these stories, see [ID:nN24310222] and
[ID:nSGE5BE0JB]

COMCAST CORP (CMCSA.O)

Short interest rose 24.2 percent in the company.

Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) has struck a deal to buy a majority
stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co (GE.N),
creating a $30 billion media superpower, but presenting
significant integration challenges ahead. [ID:nN0386203]

About 54.7 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 2.7 percent of its total shares outstanding.

ENERGY XXI (BERMUDA) LTD (EXXI.O)

Short interest rose 1,783.2 percent in the company.

Independent oil and gas company Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd
(EXXI.O) completed a 90 million common shares offering priced
at $1.90 apiece, generating funds to buy assets from a unit of
Mitsui & Co Ltd (8031.T), but diluting existing share holders.
[ID:nBNG174174]

About 5.1 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 2 percent of its total shares outstanding.

PALM INC PALM.O

Short interest rose 6.6 percent in the company.

Palm Inc reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss in
mid-December as consumers cooled to its new smartphones in the
face of fresh competition including devices based on Google Inc
(GOOG.O) software.

Palm shares fell 7.7 percent after the company revealed its
partner Sprint Nextel (S.N) was selling fewer Pre and Pixi
devices than expected and that Palm planned a marketing blitz
to stimulate demand. [ID:nN17190567]

About 60.2 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 35.9 percent of its total shares outstanding.

BANK OF AMERICA (BAC.N) AND CITIGROUP (C.N)

Short interest rose 218 percent in BofA and 29.9 percent in
Citigroup.

Both companies held stock offerings in December which
diluted existing share holders. Citigroup's shares fell to
their lowest in four months a day after its offering was priced
well below the market. That prompted the U.S. Treasury to delay
plans to start selling off its Citi holdings.

Banks of America appointed new chief executive Brian
Moynihan after a protracted search. The new CEO faces the
challenge of integrating mortgage lender Countrywide Financial
and investment bank and wealth manager Merrill Lynch into the
company.

About 240.2 million of Bank of America's shares were held
short, or 2.8 percent of its total shares outstanding. About
280.5 million of Citi's shares were held short, or about 1
percent of the company's outstanding shares.
(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Diane Craft)