NEW YORK, March 11 (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 2.5 percent in late February, the exchange said on Tuesday.
As of Feb. 28, short interest rose to about 17.471 billion shares, compared with 17.048 billion shares as of Feb. 14.
Investors who sell securities short borrow shares and then sell them, expecting the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference.