Short Stocks: Bets build against energy

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Short interest edged higher
on the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange in late January, the
exchanges said on Tuesday, suggesting a slight increase in
bearish sentiment in the stock market.

On the NYSE, short interest rose 0.6 percent from
mid-January to late January, while short interest was up 1.1
percent on the Nasdaq during the same period. Short interest
had also edged higher on both exchanges in mid-January.

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
Jan. 30, 2009.

For full story please see [ID:nN10327790].

NOBLE CORPORATION (NE.N)

Short interest rose 28.1 percent in the company.

The offshore oil and gas drilling contractor reported a
better-than-expected 20 percent rise in quarterly profit Jan.
21, despite oil prices being down by a third from the year
before. [ID:nN21504013]

About 14.7 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 5.6 percent of its total shares outstanding.

PETROHAWK ENERGY CORP (HK.N)

Short interest rose 26.2 percent in the company.

The oil and gas producer said Jan. 22 it expected a $1.1
billion to $1.3 billion pretax, noncash impairment charge in
the fourth quarter, based on lower commodity prices.
[ID:nBNG427287]

About 13.9 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 5.5 percent of its total shares outstanding.

CMS ENERGY CORP (CMS.N)

Short interest rose 27 percent in the company.

The company's board increased quarterly dividend on common
stock by 40 percent on Jan. 23, and said it plans to invest
more than $6 billion in our utility operations over the next
five years. [ID:nWNAB3163]

About 30 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 13.3 percent of its total shares outstanding.

HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC (HTZ.N)

Short interest rose 39.4 percent in the company.

The car rental company's shares fell nearly 9 percent on
Jan. 16 when it said it would cut more than 4,000 jobs in a
worldwide restructuring through the first quarter due to
falling demand. [ID:nN16441342].

About 13 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 4 percent of its total shares outstanding.

NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP INC (NYB.N)

Short interest rose 56.1 percent in the company.

The bank, one of the largest U.S. savings and loans, said
Jan. 27 that the pace of soured loans in the New York City area
may rise quickly. [ID:nN27435254]

About 28.8 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 8.3 percent of its total shares outstanding.

GENWORTH FINANCIAL INC (GNW.N)

Short interest rose 37.2 percent in the company.

The U.S. life and mortgage insurer said Jan. 16 the U.S.
Office of Thrift Supervision was still processing its
application to become a savings and loan holding company, a
condition to receiving federal aid. [ID:nN16281679]

About 12.9 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 3 percent of its total shares outstanding.

JDS UNIPHASE CORP (JDSU.O)

Short interest rose 65.9 percent in the company.

The telecommunications equipment maker said Jan. 20 it
would record an impairment charge for the fiscal quarter ended
Dec. 27 due to a weakened economy. [ID:nN20434993]

About 12.9 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 6 percent of its total shares outstanding.

STEMCELLS INC (STEM.O)

Short interest rose 50.6 percent in the company.

U.S. stem cell stocks rose Jan. 26 ahead of an expected
announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama that he would
rescind a directive limiting federal funding of human embryonic
stem-cell research. [ID:nN26538842]

About 7.7 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 8.1 percent of its total shares outstanding.

FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD (FLEX.O)

Short interest rose 31.6 percent in the company.

The contract electronics manufacturer posted a quarterly
profit and gave an outlook that fell short of Wall Street
expectations, hurt by poor demand for cell phones and consumer
electronics. [ID:nN28537612]

About 24.1 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 3 percent of its total shares outstanding.
(Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Gary Hill)