RVM, What that doesnt show, though is the borrowed stock numbers...

RVM, What that doesnt show, though is the borrowed stock numbers from Prime brokers,  that on lend to Hedgies. Reported shorts (i.e. ASX notified) are typically only 20-25% of the actual number.

This has always been a bug bear of mine, since prime brokers seem to be able to lend stock out without the hedge funds reporting the sales as shorts. They claim it is their stock to do what they want with, and can therefore "allow" their client to sell it on their behalf. What you don't see are the OTC future dated contracts between both parties that typically ask for the stock back within a year with an "allocated time value" attached. An option if you will. It just another form  of carry trade that the hedgies use to fund purchases in markets elsewhere. Think of it like the forex desk borrowing USD at 0.005% then selling the USD to buy a higher yielding currency.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_brokerage