This is a list of the ten most-hated shares on the London market, judged by the percentage of stock being shorted.
Short sellers hope to profit from falling stock prices, so it can be useful to see what they are betting against. The list is also a good indicator of stocks with the potential to bounce strongly on unexpected good news. “Short squeezes” occur when short sellers are forced out of their positions, which can send share prices surging.
Investors in Mitie, which is making a new appearance on the list, are concerned that the uncertain growth and Brexit referendum outlook may be hitting demand for its services. Aggreko, a supplier of temporary power, has seen a slowdown in demand from the North American shale sector.
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| Company | What it does | % of stock being shorted | % from 26 February |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carillion | Construction/outsourcing | 20.98% | 21.07% |
| Ocado Group | Online supermarkets | 18.60% | 17.48% |
| WM Morrison | Supermarkets | 13.61% | 13.84% |
| J Sainsbury | Supermarkets | 11.00% | 11.10% |
| Aggreko | Power supply | 9.45% | NEW ENTRY |
| Ashmore Group | EM fund manager | 8.56% | 9.24% |
| Tullow Oil | Oil and gas explorer | 8.17% | 9.88% |
| Petrofac | Oilfield services | 7.86% | 10.46% |
| Serco Group | Services outsourcing | 7.63% | 8.27% |
| Mitie Group | Facilities management | 7.42% | NEW ENTRY |