Diversified Energy Company recorded the biggest fall in disclosed net short positions in the FCA report dated yesterday, down 7.88 percentage points to 0.53% of issued share capital. The list compares that report with the previous one, of the 27th of October. A short position is shares sold and not yet bought back; the figures are a snapshot as of the report date, not live.
Pennon fell 5.8 points to 8.53%, and Vistry, at 12.94%, still holds the largest position among the ten.
In this article
- 1. Diversified Energy: 0.53%
- 2. Pennon: 8.53%
- 3. Central Asia Metals: 2.54%
- 4. NCC Group: 3.15%
- 5. Pinewood Technologies: 1.13%
- 6. Greggs: 5.64%
- 7. Chemring: 10.39%
- 8. Vistry: 12.94%
- 9. Evoke: 1.36%
- 10. Bytes Technology: 3.7%
- How to read the numbers
The top 10 biggest falls in UK short positions
The table ranks the ten largest falls in net short positions, as a percentage of issued share capital, between the FCA reports.
| Rank | Company | Net short (% of issued capital) | Previous report | Change (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diversified Energy | 0.53 | 8.41 | -7.88 |
| 2 | Pennon | 8.53 | 14.33 | -5.8 |
| 3 | Central Asia Metals | 2.54 | 7.18 | -4.64 |
| 4 | NCC Group | 3.15 | 4.35 | -1.2 |
| 5 | Pinewood Technologies | 1.13 | 2.29 | -1.16 |
| 6 | Greggs | 5.64 | 6.72 | -1.08 |
| 7 | Chemring | 10.39 | 11.38 | -0.99 |
| 8 | Vistry | 12.94 | 13.93 | -0.99 |
| 9 | Evoke | 1.36 | 2.16 | -0.8 |
| 10 | Bytes Technology | 3.7 | 4.47 | -0.77 |
The top three account for the largest cuts by some distance, each above 4 percentage points.
1. Diversified Energy: 0.53%
Diversified Energy Company’s net short position fell to 0.53% from 8.41% at the previous report, a drop of 7.88 percentage points and the largest fall in the list. The company, worth about £750 million, trades 26.8% below its 52-week high and 10.7% above its low, and is down 3.9% this year. Its subsidiary DP RBL Co amended its revolving credit agreement, a borrowing facility, yesterday, raising the borrowing base and commitments to $1 billion; nothing links this to short positions.
2. Pennon: 8.53%
Pennon’s net short position fell 5.8 points to 8.53% from 14.33%. The company, worth about £2.36 billion, trades 43.5% below its 52-week high and 5.6% above its low, and is down 35.7% this year. It raised about £550.8m through a 7-for-15 rights issue at 250p, announced on Monday, the 2nd of November, with about 94.2% taken up; nothing links this to short positions. Results are due on the 1st of December.
3. Central Asia Metals: 2.54%
Central Asia Metals’ position fell 4.64 points to 2.54% from 7.18%. It was also on the list of the 20th of October. A company announcement on the 30th of October reported a director share purchase; no detail was given, and nothing links it to short positions.
4. NCC Group: 3.15%
NCC Group’s position fell 1.2 points to 3.15% from 4.35%. It was also on the list of the 27th of October, and results are due on the 10th of December.
5. Pinewood Technologies: 1.13%
Pinewood Technologies Group’s position fell 1.16 points to 1.13% from 2.29%, roughly halving.
6. Greggs: 5.64%
Greggs’ position fell 1.08 points to 5.64% from 6.72%. The company, worth about £2.35 billion, trades 1.9% below its 52-week high and 71.4% above its low, and is up 44.7% this year. It was also on the list of the 27th of October.
7. Chemring: 10.39%
Chemring Group’s position fell 0.99 points to 10.39% from 11.38%. The company, worth about £1.53 billion, trades 11.8% below its 52-week high and 23.2% above its low, and is up 20.2% this year. Results are due on the 8th of December, and it was also on the list of the 20th of October.
8. Vistry: 12.94%
Vistry Group’s position fell 0.99 points to 12.94% from 13.93%, still the largest in the list. The company, worth about £806 million, trades 61.5% below its 52-week high and 30.5% above its low, and is down 55.8% this year.
9. Evoke: 1.36%
Evoke’s position fell 0.8 points to 1.36% from 2.16%.
10. Bytes Technology: 3.7%
Bytes Technology’s position fell 0.77 points to 3.7% from 4.47%. The company, worth about £1.04 billion, trades 4.9% below its 52-week high and 80.4% above its low, and is up 27.6% this year.
How to read the numbers
The figures are the FCA’s disclosed net short positions as a percentage of issued share capital, in the report dated yesterday. Change is in percentage points against the previous report of the 27th of October. High short interest describes positioning; it does not predict direction.