New analysis from ETP provider GraniteShares, which offers a range of 3x short and 3x leveraged ETPs on popular UK, US, and European stocks, reveals that on March 24th 2022, Cineworld Group, the world’s second-largest cinema chain, was the most shorted UK listed company.
Some 8.1 per cent of its stock was held short by five investment firms, with New Holland Capital LLC holding the largest short position with 2.42 per cent of the company’s shares.
The next most shorted UK listed companies were BOOHOO.com, AO World PLC and Hammerson PLC with 6.4 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 5.1 per cent of their stock held by eight, seven and five investment firms respectively.
The analysis reveals GLG Partners LLP had by far the most short positions on UK listed companies of any investment firms with 35. This was followed by Marshall Wace LLP, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited and Ennismore Fund Management Limited with 23, 21 and 10 short.
Will Rhind, Founder and CEO of GraniteShares, says: “Hopes that UK stocks were set for a strong year have evaporated as the war in Ukraine and rising inflation hits confidence and drives volatility across the market.
“The most popular shorted stocks on the Graniteshares remain some of the largest US Technology names, in particular Tesla. With the recent decline in US Technology stocks, sophisticated investors may be signalling they expect further price declines.”
