Selling Short

Selling short

Selling a stock not actually owned. If an investor thinks the price of a stock is going down, the investor could borrow the stock from a broker and sell it. Eventually, the investor must buy the stock back on the open market. For instance, you borrow 1000 shares of XYZ on July 1 and sell it for $8 per share. Then, on Aug. 1, you purchase 1000 shares of XYZ at $7 per share. You've made $1000 (less commissions and other fees) by selling short.

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selling short

See short sale.

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Selling Short

The act or practice of selling borrowed securities. In selling short, one borrows securities ? usually from a brokerage ? and sells them. One then buys the same securities in order to repay the brokerage. Selling short is practiced if one believes that the price of a security will soon fall. That is, one expects to sell the borrowed securities at a higher price than the price at which one will buy in order to return the securities. Selling short is one of the most common practices of hedge funds. See also: Margin account.