The number of shares out on loan in September has risen by the highest level in five years as investors reacted to market falls by taking more negative bets.
Borrowed shares rose to 11.6% of total stock in September, according to data compiled for Bloomberg by research company Data Explorers, up from 9.5% in July. The increase is the largest seen since at least 2006. Around 4.1% of shares on the New York Stock Exchange were borrowed and sold in September, up from 3.5% at the end of July, according to the Bloomberg figures. The increase is the fastest since March 2009, when sentiment began to turn and shares began an ascent which saw the S&P 500 end the year 63% higher. Bets on further falls in Hong Kong stocks - which have already tumbl...
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