NEW YORK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Short interest in U.S. stocks
fell in late September, the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange
said on Friday, suggesting a decrease in bearish sentiment
among equities investors.
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 Sept. 30.
For full story please see [ID:nN0991352]. For factboxes
please see [ID:nN0977232] and [ID:nN0991069].
EASTMAN KODAK (EK.N)
Short interest rose 30 percent in the company.
The photography company announced a plan last month to
raise up to $700 million to bolster its balance sheet and free
up capital for investments, amid concerns it could go out of
business. [ID:nN16155121].
About 53.5 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 20 percent of its total shares outstanding, according to
Reuters data.
RITE AID CORP (RAD.N)
Short interest rose 71 percent in the company.
The No. 3 U.S. drugstore chain forecast a wider fiscal-year
loss as sales keep falling, sending its shares down sharply
last month as investors raised new doubts over the chain's
ability to improve its business. [ID:nN24396230]
About 28.7 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 3.2 percent of its total shares outstanding, according to
Reuters data.
BAKER HUGHES INC (BHI.N)
Short interest rose 39.3 percent in the company.
The oilfield services company said it is anticipating
"modest" growth in the number of oil and gas rigs drilling in
North America through 2011. Baker Hughes also said in late
August that it would buy smaller peer BJ Services Co (BJS.N)
for $4.8 billion. [ID:nN09169375] and [ID:nBNG500189]
About 28.3 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 9.1 percent of its total shares outstanding, according to
Reuters data.
STARBUCKS CORP 25.2 (SBUX.O)
Short interest rose 39.3 percent in the company.
Starbucks investors should consider taking their profits
and buying a cup of coffee instead of overvalued shares,
Barron's said in mid-September. The high valuation of
Starbucks's stock concerns Barron's, which said the company has
not been able to boost revenue and has not said how fast it
hopes to do so in the future. [ID:nN13493396]
About 37.9 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 5.1 percent of its total shares outstanding, according to
Reuters data.
JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP (JBLU.O)
Short interest rose 13.1 percent
Earlier in September J.P. Morgan Securities downgraded its
rating on JetBlue to "neutral" from "overweight" even as the
brokerage upgraded other airline stocks, saying U.S. airline
sector fundamentals are on the mend. [ID:nBNG400475]
About 30.4 million of the company's shares were held short,
or 10.1 percent of its total shares outstanding, according to
Reuters data.
(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Gary Hill)
