Table of Contents
Weekly Recap of ASX Short Selling Activity
Welcome back to the Short Seller Series, an overview of the most heavily shorted stocks on the ASX, along with notable changes in short interest over the past week. Please note that short selling data is released with a four-day delay, as reporting is only required three business days post-trade.
Overview of Short Selling
In this analysis, we compare:
- Changes in short interest between 11 and 18 August
- Changes over the month from 21 July to 18 August
- Significant week-on-week changes of 0.5% or more in short interest.
Most Shorted Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 22.78% | +2.95% | +8.70% |
| PDN | Paladin Energy | 18.46% | +0.31% | +2.05% |
| PLS | Pilbara Minerals | 15.09% | +0.01% | +0.64% |
| IEL | Idp Education | 14.11% | +1.24% | +1.86% |
| PNV | Polynovo | 13.03% | +1.39% | +2.28% |
| LIC | Lifestyle Communities | 11.52% | -0.19% | -0.38% |
| MIN | Mineral Resources | 11.52% | -0.18% | -2.00% |
| CTD | Corporate Travel Management | 9.83% | -0.07% | -0.31% |
| SLX | Silex Systems | 8.88% | -5.70% | -2.35% |
| CTT | Cettire | 8.68% | +0.29% | +3.09% |
Rising Short Interest
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 22.78% | +2.95% | +8.70% |
| CUV | Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals | 8.09% | +2.65% | +2.53% |
| PNV | Polynovo | 13.03% | +1.39% | +2.28% |
| IEL | Idp Education | 14.11% | +1.24% | +1.86% |
| A4N | Alpha HPA | 3.93% | +1.12% | +1.06% |
| VUL | Vulcan Energy Resources | 6.23% | +1.06% | +2.18% |
| AD8 | Audinate Group | 5.68% | +1.03% | +0.85% |
| BVS | Bravura Solutions | 2.92% | +0.94% | +0.53% |
| HLS | Healius | 6.19% | +0.93% | +2.13% |
| AGL | AGL Energy | 3.39% | +0.73% | +0.67% |
| JBH | JB Hi-Fi | 4.69% | +0.57% | +0.56% |
| NCK | Nick Scali | 4.94% | +0.56% | -0.83% |
| GYG | Guzman Y Gomez | 8.03% | +0.54% | +1.72% |
| FBU | Fletcher Building | 2.72% | +0.54% | +0.59% |
| DGT | Digico Infrastructure REIT | 4.82% | +0.52% | +0.26% |
Key Insights
-
Boss Energy: The stock faced increased short selling following a dramatic 44% decline on 28 July, which stemmed from upward revisions to costs and uncertainties regarding production capacity. An independent review is currently assessing the impact on feasibility assumptions.
- Post-earnings shorting: Several companies, including Audinate, Bravura Solutions, JB Hi-Fi, and Nick Scali, saw increased short positions due to investor concerns following their earnings announcements.
Most Covered Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLX | Silex Systems | 8.88% | -5.70% | -2.35% |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 7.20% | -3.05% | -4.47% |
| BPT | Beach Energy | 3.27% | -1.96% | -0.01% |
| ALK | Alkane Resources | 1.05% | -1.75% | -1.54% |
| WBT | Weebit Nano | 2.91% | -1.56% | -0.25% |
| JHX | James Hardie Industries Plc | 2.79% | -1.19% | -0.13% |
| JLG | Johns Lyng Group | 2.78% | -0.88% | -1.86% |
| AAI | Alcoa Corporation | 0.74% | -0.78% | +0.30% |
| ORA | Orora | 3.50% | -0.73% | -0.84% |
| LOT | Lotus Resources | 7.72% | -0.72% | +0.04% |
| ADT | Adriatic Metals Plc | 0.80% | -0.67% | -1.74% |
| WHC | Whitehaven Coal | 3.95% | -0.51% | -1.67% |
| PTM | Platinum Asset Management | 3.96% | -0.51% | +0.17% |
Key Insights on Most Covered Stocks
-
Silex observed a notable drop in short interest after a $130 million capital placement, which was significantly below market price. This trend seems to indicate a possible unwinding of short positions.
-
Liontown Resources has continuously seen a decline in short interest, despite recent decreases in lithium prices, indicating a strong market response to its capital raising efforts.
- Reporting season revealed significant movements for companies like James Hardie and Orora, which have seen their shares react dramatically to earnings results.
This week’s short selling activity highlights a fluctuating ASX landscape influenced by earnings reports and strategic financial moves. Keep an eye on these stocks as their fortunes evolve in the coming weeks.
