NYSE short interest hits fresh high in late June

NEW YORK, July 10 (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 2.7 percent in late June, the exchange said on Thursday, hitting a fresh high and suggesting an increase in bearish sentiment in the stock market.

As of June 30, short interest rose to about 18.13 billion shares, compared to 17.65 billion shares as of June 13.

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 Leslie Gevirtz)