Aggregate Short Interest and Market Valuations

12 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2004 Last revised: 4 Dec 2022

See all articles by Owen A. Lamont

Owen A. Lamont

Harvard University - Department of Economics

Jeremy C. Stein

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2004

Abstract

We examine some basic data on the evolution of aggregate short interest, both during the dot-com era, and at other times in history. Total short interest moves in a countercyclical fashion. For example, short interest in NASDAQ stocks actually declines as the NASDAQ index approaches its peak. Moreover, this decline does not seem to reflect a substitution away from outright short-selling and towards put options, as the ratio of put-to-call volume displays the same countercyclical tendency. The evidence suggests that: i) arbitrageurs are reluctant to bet against aggregate mispricings; and ii) short-selling does not play a particularly helpful role in stabilizing the overall stock market.

Suggested Citation

Lamont, Owen A. and Stein, Jeremy C., Aggregate Short Interest and Market Valuations (January 2004). NBER Working Paper No. w10218, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=486222

Owen A. Lamont (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Jeremy C. Stein

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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United States
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HOME PAGE: http://post.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/stein/stein.html

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