At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC's short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.
This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.
With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:
- Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) remains the most shorted ASX share after its short interest rose to 21%. Short sellers have been concerned with Boss Energy's ramp up costs and appear to believe that the market is too optimistic on the outlook for uranium prices.
- Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has seen its short interest lift again to 17.6%. It is another uranium miner that is being targeted by short sellers.
- IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 12.7% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. Short sellers have done well with this one. This student placement and language testing company's shares have crashed due to extremely tough trading conditions weighing heavily on its performance.
- Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) short interest of 12.3%, which is up week on week again. Short sellers don't appear to believe that lithium prices will rebound any time soon.
- Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) has 11.9% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. This is a third uranium stock in the top ten that short sellers are targeting.
- Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) has short interest of 11.7%, which is up slightly since last week. This graphite miner is battling weak graphite prices and the declaration of a force majeure at its Balama operation in Africa.
- Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) is back in the top ten with short interest of 10.5%. Short sellers seem to think that this pizza chain operator's recovery may take longer than expected.
- Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) has seen its short interest lift to 10.4%. This lithium miner is another battling very weak lithium prices.
- Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) has short interest of 10.4%, which is down sharply since last week. Short sellers may have been locking in gains after its shares crashed over the past 12 months.
- Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.3%. There are concerns about its business model and also trading conditions in the luxury retail market.
