Table of Contents
Overview of Heavily Shorted Stocks on the ASX
Welcome back to the Short Seller Series—a detailed examination of the most heavily shorted stocks on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and notable shifts in short interest over the previous week. Notably, the data reflecting short selling activities is typically reported four days after the actual trades, providing insights with a slight delay.
Key Metrics and Timeframes
This recap compares:
- Week-on-week changes from 28 July to 4 August
- Month-on-month shifts from 7 July to 4 August
- Highlights of most covered stocks and significant week-on-week shifts (0.5% or more)
Most Shorted Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 19.41% | +3.10% | +5.09% |
| PDN | Paladin Energy | 17.51% | +0.34% | +0.62% |
| PLS | Pilbara Minerals | 15.03% | -0.96% | +1.21% |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 13.14% | +0.07% | +1.00% |
| IEL | Idp Education | 12.42% | +0.71% | +0.35% |
| MIN | Mineral Resources | 12.34% | -0.64% | -1.58% |
| LIC | Lifestyle Communities | 11.73% | +0.04% | +0.16% |
| PNV | Polynovo | 11.54% | +0.50% | +0.47% |
| SLX | Silex Systems | 11.54% | +0.33% | +0.24% |
| CTD | Corporate Travel Management | 8.88% | -1.21% | -1.03% |
Key Insights
- Boss Energy: Short interest has surged, correlating with a nearly 50% stock drop following disappointing FY26 guidance. The company faces challenges in achieving nameplate capacity, attracting short seller speculation amid an independent review of project economics.
Rising Short Interest
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOE | Boss Energy | 19.41% | +3.10% | +5.09% |
| CTT | Cettire | 8.63% | +3.00% | +3.41% |
| SGR | The Star Entertainment Group | 5.71% | +2.08% | +2.61% |
| URW | Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield | 1.34% | +1.12% | +0.98% |
| APX | Appen | 5.24% | +0.92% | +0.93% |
| BGL | Bellevue Gold | 7.52% | +0.88% | +1.07% |
| IEL | Idp Education | 12.42% | +0.71% | +0.35% |
| PTM | Platinum Asset Management | 4.58% | +0.69% | +1.21% |
| BAP | Bapcor | 2.48% | +0.55% | +0.93% |
| SYR | Syrah Resources | 5.21% | +0.54% | +0.24% |
| PNV | Polynovo | 11.54% | +0.50% | +0.47% |
Key Insights
- Cettire experienced a drastic 23.5% decline on 31 July after the announcement of the US lifting tariff exemptions effective from 29 August 2025. This could significantly impact the luxury retailer’s sales model. Despite the backlash, Cettire’s stock has rebounded by approximately 17%.
Most Covered Stocks
| Ticker | Company | Short % | Week-on-Week Change | Month-on-Month Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RMS | Ramelius Resources | 1.74% | -4.52% | -5.41% |
| CU6 | Clarity Pharmaceuticals | 6.87% | -3.14% | -1.59% |
| IGO | IGO | 5.68% | -1.44% | -2.18% |
| BRG | Breville Group | 4.30% | -1.36% | -1.56% |
| LYC | Lynas Rare Earths | 4.42% | -1.28% | -1.84% |
| CTD | Corporate Travel Management | 8.88% | -1.21% | -1.03% |
| NHC | New Hope Corporation | 2.19% | -1.07% | -1.08% |
| PLS | Pilbara Minerals | 15.03% | -0.96% | +1.21% |
| IPX | Iperionx | 4.96% | -0.93% | -1.71% |
| BPT | Beach Energy | 2.42% | -0.80% | -0.93% |
| BSL | Bluescope Steel | 2.16% | -0.79% | -0.88% |
Key Insights
- Ramelius Resources has seen a notable decline in short interest, attributed to a combination of rising gold prices and satisfactory quarterly results, alongside its ongoing merger with Spartan Resources.
Overall, stocks that have experienced short covering stem from diverse areas, including lithium, rare earths, travel, and energy sectors. As market conditions evolve, the behaviour of short sellers remains a critical indicator not only of sentiment but also of potential future movements in these companies.
