SECURITIES

NASDAQ Short Interest Declines: Short interest in stocks traded on the NASDAQ National Market System fell 0.4% in the month ended mid-December. December’s dip marked the second consecutive monthly decline. In the previous month ended mid-November, short interest on the NASDAQ NMS fell 1%, the first decline in monthly short interest since January. In short sales, people borrow stock from a broker and sell it, betting the price will drop so they can buy the shares back at a lower price, return them to the lender, and keep the difference. A large short position typically means people expect the stock to decline. Some consider an increase in short interest bullish because the borrowed shares must be bought back eventually.