A SHORT, or short position, is created when an INVESTOR or TRADER sells a stock first with the intention of repurchasing it or covering it later at a lower price. A trader may decide to short a stock when he believes the price of that security is likely to decline in the near future.
Short trades can be NAKEDÂ and COVERED. A Short Position NAKED is when a trader or investor sells a stock without having possession of it. However, that practice is illegal in the US, for stocks. A Covered Short is when a trader borrows stock from a stock lending department; in return, this trader pays a borrowing fee during the time the short position is in his hands. In the futures or currency markets, short positions can be created at any time.
A short position refers to a form of trading in which an investor sells a stock for the purpose of buying it back later. A short position is a strategy used when an investor anticipates that the price of a stock will fall in the short term. Â In common practice, short sellers borrow shares from an investment bank or other financial institution, paying a fee for borrowing the shares while the short position is in place.
Understanding Short Positions
When creating a short position, it must be understood that the investor has a finite potential for profit and an infinite potential for loss. This is because the profit potential is limited to the distance of the stock at zero. However, a stock could potentially rise for years, making a series of higher highs.
It is also important to understand what a «short-squeeze» is. It is when a stock suddenly begins to rise in price when traders and investors who are short begin to hedge the stock. A famous «short-squeeze» occurred in October 2008, when Volkswagen shares rose sharply because short sellers rushed to cover their stocks. During this short-squeeze period, stocks rose from approximately 200 to 1000 euros in just over a month.
Related TopicsÂ
Other Topics of Interest in Alfapedia
Stock Market Image

Resumen / Summary
TÃtulo / Article Name
SHORT POSITION IN STOCK MARKET
Descripción / Description
What is Short Position in Stock Market Trading ? Its Different Faces or Moments in Investment
Autor / Author
Juan Carlos Franco
Autor / Publisher Name
ALPHAPEDIA
Logo / Publisher Logo