Short Selling: Definition, History, Types, How to Short Sell a Stock, and Pros & Cons

Short selling is the practice of selling borrowed assets, such as stocks, for making a profit by purchasing them back at a lower price. Short selling is also known as “selling short” and it is done when the market or a stock is in its downtrend. When you short sell an equity, you are anticipating that the price of the stock will go down, rather than up, and you do this so that you may make a profit on the difference. 

An investor must first borrow the assets from a broker or another investor, before being able to sell them on the open market. This is the first step in the process of initiating a short sale. 

The history of short selling starts from the case of first publicly listed company in the world itself – the United East India Company. Isaac Le Maire, who was one of the founding members of the VOC, was involved in a conflict with some of the other members, which led to a lawsuit, and he eventually left the firm under a cloud. In the year 1608, Le Maire devised a scheme to get his retribution.

An investor can short a stock using most trading platforms that are available today. You are going to need to have margin trading authorized on your account so that you may borrow money in order to be able to short a stock. The complete value of the stock you short will be considered a loan from your margin account, and you will be required to pay interest on the amount that you borrow. Therefore, you will want sufficient margin capacity, also known as equity, to be able to finance the loan.

Leverage is the main advantage of short selling. Margin trading allows you to sell short while only requiring you to put up a proportion of the entire value of the stock you’re trading. It enables you to generate more revenue with a lower initial financial commitment.

One of the most significant disadvantages associated with short selling is the risk of the market. As a short seller, you are exposed to potentially infinite market risk due to the fact that there is no cap on how high a stock’s price may go. The greater the increase in the stock price, the more suffering you will experience.

What is Short Selling?

Short selling is an investment strategy where an investor borrows shares of stock from a broker and sells them in the market, hoping the price will fall. They then buy back the shares at a lower price and return them to the broker, pocketing the difference as profit. It is a way to make money from a declining stock price.  Short selling has the potential to generate a lot of profit. There is also the possibility of losing a significant amount of money. 

The practice of selling shares of a company that the seller does not own or shares that the seller has borrowed from a broker is known as “shorting” stock. This practice is also known as “short selling.” 

When you short a stock, your rationale is often that you anticipate a price decline for the underlying security. If you sell the stock now, the expectation is that you will be able to purchase it again in the not-too-distant future at a price that is lower than what you sold it for. 

You earn a profit by keeping the money that is left over after subtracting the buying price from the selling price if this plan is successful. You will finish up with the exact same quantity of stock of the identical stock that you started with. There will be no change. 

Some market participants engage in short selling for the sole purpose of speculating. Others want to protect themselves from potential losses by purchasing hedging instruments in the event that they have a long position. 

You are subject to a different set of regulations than when you short than to invest in stocks in the traditional sense. Regulations include a rule that prevents short selling from further bringing down the price of a stock that has fallen more than 10% in a single trading day in comparison to the stock’s closing price the day before. 

Going long on a stock is the opposite strategy of shorting it. A trader talks about doing so using this phrase when they open a position using a purchase order rather than a sell order. Buying a stock is the opposite strategy of selling short (also known as “shorting”) a stock.

What is the History of Short Selling?

The practice of short selling dates back to the 1600s when Dutch merchants began trading shares of the Dutch East India Company. Short selling was not officially recognized until the 19th century when stock markets began to regulate the practice.

Short selling has often been controversial, with critics arguing that it can be used to manipulate markets and drive down stock prices. In 1929, short selling was blamed for contributing to the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression. The U.S. government implemented regulations to restrict short-selling.

Short selling remains a common practice in modern financial markets. It is used by investors to hedge their positions, speculate on falling prices, and provide liquidity to the market. Short selling can be a risky strategy, as losses can be unlimited if the stock price continues to rise. However, when done carefully and with proper risk management, it can be a profitable tool for investors.

What are the types of Short Selling?

There are two main types of short selling – covered short selling and Uncovered (Naked) short selling.  An investor is engaging in the practice of short covering when an investor purchases shares of stock in order to close out an open short position. Following the completion of the investor’s purchase and subsequent return of the borrowed shares to the lending brokerage, the short-sale transaction is said to have been “covered.”

The technique of short-selling a marketable asset of any type without first borrowing the asset from someone else or assuring that it may be borrowed is known as naked short selling or naked shorting. This is sometimes referred to as naked shorting.

Covered short selling is a trading method in which an investor sells a security that they do not own but have borrowed from another person in anticipation that the price of the asset will go down. The investor hopes that the price of the security will go down. 

The investor is required to make a purchase of the underlying asset at some time before the end of the loan term in order to cover the short position they have taken. There is a possibility that the investor may suffer a loss if the price of the security goes up rather than down. Stop-loss orders and other risk management methods are often used by covered short sellers in order to reduce the likelihood of incurring financial losses. 

There are a few other names for covered short selling, including “covered shorting” and “covered short position.” When opposed to uncovered short selling, which involves the investor not having the security on loan and being consequently exposed to infinite potential losses if the price of the security rises, covered short selling is seen as a method that carries a comparatively modest level of risk.

Let’s say an investor has the opinion that the price of a share of GAMESTOP Company’s stock will probably go down in the very near future. The investor obtains a loan of 100 shares of GAMESTOP stock from the broker, then sells those shares on the market at a price of $50 per share, resulting in a total profit of $5,000. 

The investor has the option to purchase back the 100 shares at a reduced price If the price of GAMESTOP stock does in fact decrease, for example, $40 per share, and then return them to the broker. After that, the investor would earn a profit equal to the disparity between the selling price and the purchase price, which in this scenario would be $5,000 minus $4,000, or $1,000. 

However,  the investor may suffer a loss if the price of GAMESTOP stock continues to rise rather than continuing its downward trend. For instance, the investor will need to purchase back the shares at a cost of $6,000 if the price of a share climbs to $60,  which means that the investor would experience a loss of $1,000. Stop-loss orders or other risk management measures that restrict possible losses might be used by the investor as a means of reducing the impact of this risk.

Uncovered (Naked) short selling

Naked short selling, also known as uncovered short selling, is when an investor sells a security that they do not own in the hope that the price of the asset will go down. The investor in a naked short position does not have the security that they are selling on loan from anybody else, as opposed to covered short selling, which is when the investor borrows the security from someone else before selling it. This indicates that they are exempt from the requirement that they purchase the security back to cover their position and that they are not subject to the same constraints on the timing of the buyback as other investors. 

Naked short selling, on the other hand, is fraught with major dangers. In the event that the price of the asset goes up rather than down, the investor is at risk of suffering limitless losses. Naked short selling is generally regarded as unethical and is frequently illegal in financial markets because it has the potential to create an artificial demand for a security and to disrupt the normal functioning of the market, . This is due to the fact that it can potentially drive up the price of that security. As a direct consequence of this fact, regulatory authorities often implement stringent measures to prohibit or limit naked short selling.

How to Short Sell a Stocks?

When shorting a stock, the major danger is that the stock may really rise in price, which will result in a loss for the investor. The amount of money that can be lost on a short position is also without bounds because there is no conceivable upper limit on the amount that a stock’s price may potentially appreciate.

In addition, margin is required for short selling. As a result of this, there is a risk that a short seller may be required to meet a margin call in the event that the price of the security goes up. In the event that the short seller receives a margin call, they will be required to send more cash to their account in order to restore the initial margin amount. 

It is essential to be aware of the fact that the SEC may, in some circumstances, put limitations on the individuals who are allowed to engage in short selling, the types of securities that may be sold short, and the processes by which such securities may be sold short. 

Shorting low-priced equities, for instance, is fraught with considerable challenges and restrictions. There is also the possibility of arbitrary limits being placed on short sales. During the financial crisis of 2008, the SEC temporarily outlawed the naked short-selling of banks and other comparable institutions that were the focus of rapidly decreasing share prices. This measure was taken to avoid more panic from occurring. The practise of selling short stocks that you do not really own is known as naked short selling. 

One such regulation that restricts short selling is known as the uptick rule. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent short selling from further dragging down the price of a company once it has already fallen by more than 10% in a single trading day. 2 Traders need to be aware that some sorts of limits may have an effect on their approach.

Opportunities for short selling might arise because of the possibility of assets being overpriced,. Take, for instance, the housing bubble that emerged just before to the onset of the financial crisis. The cost of real estate reached unsustainable heights, and when the bubble finally burst, the market saw a severe downward adjustment. 

In a similar vein, routinely traded financial products, such as stocks, have the potential to reach an excessive price (and undervalued, for that matter). When it comes to short selling, the most important thing is to be able to recognise which assets may be overpriced, when their price may fall, and what price they may reach. 

Obviously, asset prices may remain artificially inflated for extended periods of time, and very potentially for far longer than a short seller can continue to operate profitably. Consider the following scenario: a trader believes that businesses operating in a certain industry will be confronted with significant industry headwinds in six months, and as a result, they conclude that some of the stocks in that industry are good candidates for short sales. However, the stock prices of such firms may not yet begin to reflect those prospective troubles, and as a result, the trader could have to wait before establishing a short position in the company’s shares. 

Traders may enter and exit a short sale on the same day, or they may remain in the position for several days or weeks, depending on the strategy and how the security is performing. In terms of how long to stay in a short position, traders may enter and exit a short sale on the same day, or they may remain in the position for several days or weeks. Due to the fact that time is of the utmost importance in short selling, in addition to the fact that the possible effect of tax treatment calls for expertise and careful attention, this approach demands both. 

Even if you monitor the market often, you should still consider setting limit orders, trailing stops, and other trade orders on your short sell in order to restrict the amount of risk you are exposed to or to automatically lock in a particular level of gains.

What are the factors that must be taken into account before engaging in Short Selling?

Factors that you must take into account when engaging in short selling includes looking at market conditions, regulations etc. Let us examine in detail.

Market conditions: It is critical to evaluate both the broad situation of the market and the particular circumstances of the asset being sold short. The present price and trends, the degree of liquidity, and any prospective risks or uncertainties are all factors to examine. 

Risk management: Because short selling entails the risk of possible losses it is critical to have a risk management strategy in place if the price of the securities rises,. This might involve utilising stop-loss orders, limiting possible losses, or using other risk-management methods. 

Legal and regulatory considerations: Short selling is subject to a variety of laws and regulations, which must be understood and followed. This may include timing and reporting requirements for short positions, as well as prohibitions on naked short selling. 

Brokerage and financing charges: Typically, short selling entails borrowing the security from a broker, which may incur borrowing costs or fees. When assessing the possible return on a short position, these expenditures must be taken into account. 

Trading strategy and objectives: It is critical to understand the purpose of the short position and how it fits into the broader trading plan. Considerations such as the estimated length of the trade, the size of the position, and the possible return on investment may be included.

Short squeeze: A short squeeze is when the price of a stock experiences an abrupt surge as a result of a significant number of short-sellers covering their bets by purchasing more shares of the company. A short squeeze is when the price of a stock experiences an abrupt surge as a result of a significant number of short-sellers covering their bets by purchasing more shares of the company.

When the price of a company that has a considerable amount of short interest is soaring, this phenomenon is known as a “short squeeze.” A positive feedback loop is created as a result of the squeeze, which causes the stock price to continue to rise. 

There are just a few instances of short squeezes. It is necessary for there to be a sufficient number of short-sellers who together own a large number of shares in order for there to be the possibility of a short squeeze. Now, any positive trigger in such a circumstance may prompt short sellers to start worrying, leading to greater purchasing of the stock as the short sellers seek to cover their holdings.

This may be a win-win situation for investors. Although the majority of companies that undergo a short squeeze have a relatively low number of outstanding shares and a modest market capitalization, short squeezes may also occur in bigger equities, which puts billions of dollars at risk. 

A short squeeze may be caused by anything as simple as a favourable earnings report or news headline when there is a high quantity of short interest in a company. A short squeeze can also occur when there is a large level of long interest in a stock.

The price continues to climb as a greater number of short-sellers are either coerced or choose to cover their bets by purchasing more shares of the company’s stock. There are occasions when a short squeeze is successful in convincing other investors to purchase, which drives the price even higher.

Investors should be vary of short squeeze before engaging in short squeeze.

Why Short Sell a Stocks?

Speculation and risk management are perhaps the two most prominent motivations for participating in short selling. A pure price bet is what a speculator is making, with the expectation that it will go down in the future. If they are incorrect, then they will be forced to purchase the shares back at a higher price, which would result in a loss for them.

What does Shorting a Stock mean?

By selling asset investors do not own (shorting a stock) in the hope that its price will fall, investors profit from the spread between the sale price and the price at which they finally purchase the security back (at which they return it to the lender). 

One must first borrow shares of stock from a broker or another party before selling them short on the market. Assuming the stock price falls as anticipated, the investor may repurchase the shares at a discount, then return them to the lender while keeping the price difference. Although the investor may suffer a loss if the stock price rises instead than falls. 

Risks are high when shorting a company since losses are potentially endless if the stock’s price rises. Therefore, before participating in short selling, investors should thoroughly analyse the risks and limits of this approach.

When is the ideal time to engage in Short Selling?

There is no one “perfect” moment to participate in short selling since, in the end, it is determined by the particular conditions as well as the goals that the investor has set for themselves. Short selling is a strategy that allows investors to benefit from a drop in the price of an asset.

However, other investors may opt to engage in short selling as a hedge against possible losses in long holdings they have taken.

Is Short Selling risky?

Yes, short selling is considered highly risky because of x. It’s possible that borrowed shares may be returned, in which case the short seller will have little choice but to close their trade early. There is a possibility that the stock price may go up, requiring the short seller to put up extra collateral.

There is a possibility that borrowing costs may be raised prior to the short position being closed. The percentage of a company’s shares that are currently out for loan is referred to as its utilisation rate. Each of these three hazards associated with short selling grows when there is greater use of the strategy.

There is a negative correlation between high borrowing costs and high usage, which in turn is linked to worse stock returns and lower four-factor alphas during the following year.

How to use Technical Analysis in Short Selling?

The process of valuing assets via the examination of information produced by market activity, such as historical prices and trading volume, is known as technical analysis. It is predicated on the theory that patterns in the market, as shown by charts and other technical indicators, may provide insight into what will happen in the future. 

An investor borrow shares of a security from a broker and then sell those shares on the market in the expectation that the price of the asset will go down. the investor may purchase the shares back from the broker at the new if the price does end up falling,, lower price and then pocket the difference between the two prices as a profit. 

An investor may seek for chart patterns or technical indications that signal an asset is overpriced and likely to decrease in price in order to apply technical analysis in short selling. For instance, the investor would watch for a chart pattern known as a “top” or “double top,” which is often seen as an indication that the market is about to decline.

They may also look at indicators such as the relative strength index (RSI), which determines the rate and magnitude of price changes, and search for readings that suggest the security has been overbought and may soon go through a correction. This is because the RSI measures the speed and magnitude of price changes. 

It is crucial to remember that technical analysis is only one of the tools that an investor may use when short-selling security. This technique should be utilised in combination with fundamental research, which entails examining the underlying strength of a business as well as its financial health. It is also vital to be aware of the hazards associated with short selling, such as the possibility of incurring limitless losses if the price of the investment really increases rather than decreases.

What are the two Metrics that is used to track Short Selling?

There are two metrices to use to track short selling. They are Short Interest Ratio and Short Interest To Volume Ratio. The short-interest ratio is calculated by taking the total number of borrowed shares of a certain stock and dividing that number by the average daily trading volume of that company.

To put it more simply, the ratio may assist an investor in determining, in a relatively short amount of time, whether or not a company is severely shorted in relation to its usual daily trading volume. The short-interest ratio is calculated by taking the total number of borrowed shares of a certain stock and dividing that number by the average daily trading volume of that company.

To put it more simply, the ratio may assist an investor in determining, in a relatively short amount of time, whether or not a company is severely shorted in comparison to its usual daily trading volume.

The short-interest ratio is calculated by taking the total number of borrowed shares of a certain stock and dividing that number by the average daily trading volume of that company. To put it more simply, the ratio may assist an investor in determining, in a relatively short amount of time, whether or not a company is severely shorted in comparison to its usual daily trading volume.

A mathematical indicator that is used in finance is called the short interest ratio. It relies on two factors: the total number of short positions and the average daily trading volume. In the end, it reveals whether or not it is the appropriate moment to short-sell. 

When the ADTV is high, the short-interest ratio is often lower than normal. The short-interest ratio tends to be higher when the average daily trading volume (ADTV) is lower. In a similar manner, the ratio is high when the overall short interest is large, and the ratio is low when the total short interest is low. 

It shows how high or low the shorted shares are in comparison to the average daily trading volume of the underlying security. When the short interest ratio is high, a large number of shares that have been sold short are likely to be repurchased on the open market. On a similar vein, if the short-interest ratio is low, it indicates that there will be a small number of shares that will be repurchased in the open market after they have been sold short.

The days to cover ratio and the short interest ratio are synonymous terms that are often used interchangeably. The days to cover ratio, which measures the estimated number of days necessary to cover a position on the shorted shares issued by a corporation, is analogous to the short interest ratio and gauges the same thing. 

As a result, the days to cover ratio shows, in a nutshell, the total number of days that short sellers have to buy the shares they have borrowed from the general public via the open market. 

As a result, a high days-to-cover ratio is a bearish indication. This is the case when the ratio is high. On the other hand, a low days-to-cover ratio is a bullish indication since it indicates that there are few open positions.

The short interest to volume ratio is a measure of the number of shares that have been sold short in relation to the total volume of the asset. This ratio is also known as the “short interest ratio.” To get it, divide the total number of shares sold short by the total volume of the securities for a certain amount of time, often a month. This gives you the short interest ratio. 

For instance, the short interest to volume ratio would be 0.1 for a corporation that had 1 million shares sold short over the course of the previous month and a total volume of 10 million shares traded during that time period. This indicates that short sales made up 10% of the entire volume of the security’s trading during the time in question. 

Traders and investors may find the ratio of short interest to volume to be a helpful indication. This is because a high ratio may signal that there is a considerable level of negative sentiment in the market for a certain asset. Short sellers may need to purchase back the shares they sold in order to liquidate their positions if the price of the security begins to climb, therefore this may also be an indication of prospective buying pressure.

When examining a security, the short interest to volume ratio is only one element that should be considered; nevertheless, it is vital to keep in mind that this metric should be utilised in combination with other indicators and analytical methods since it is just one component among many.

What are examples of Short Selling in the Stock Market?

Let us look at some examples of stock selling in the stock market. An investor has the opinion that the stock of a certain firm is now overpriced and will most likely continue to decrease in price. They borrow shares of the company and then sell them on the market in the expectation that they will be able to purchase them again in the future at a lower price and make a profit from the difference in price. 

Bearish investors anticipate a general decline in stock values and are pessimistic about the broader stock market. They short sell a collection of companies or an index fund in the hopes of making a profit from the general decrease in market value. 

When an investor has the belief that a certain industry is likely to go through a slump, one strategy they might use is to sell short the shares of firms operating in that area. For instance, investors  may choose to short sell airline stocks as a speculative investment if an investor believes that the airline sector is set to undergo a downturn owing to economic or other circumstances, 

What happens when you Short a stock?

When you short a stock, you are betting that the price of that stock will go down. To begin, you will need to borrow the shares from an investor who already has a substantial holding in the company. The next step is to sell the shares at the present market price to another investor who is also interested in going long.

When the price drops, you may “close your position” by giving the shares you borrowed back to the person from whom you borrowed them at a price that is lower than the initial price. You make money off of the decrease because you sell at a high price and then cover your short position by purchasing at a low price. This allows you to benefit from the decline. 

What are the advantages of Short Selling?

The main advantage of short selling is that it helps you take advantage of a bearish market. Other benefits include

• Opportunity to benefit from falling prices Short selling gives investors the opportunity to profit from falling prices, which may be a valuable instrument in a bear market or when it is anticipated that the value of a particular asset will fall. 
• Short selling may be used as a hedging technique to cover possible losses in other portions of an investor’s portfolio. This provides investors with the opportunity to hedge their portfolios. For instance, an investor who has a long position in a certain stock could engage in short selling in order to hedge their risk in the event that the price of the stock drops. 
• Short selling enables investors to express a negative view on a particular security or market, which can be useful in circumstances in which an investor believes that a security is overvalued or that the overall market is going to experience a decline. Short selling also enables investors to express a negative view on a market.

There is always the chance of incurring limitless losses when short-selling securities. Before short selling, investors should weigh the potential benefits against the possible drawbacks of their investing approach.

What are the disadvantages of Short Selling?

The main disadvantage of short selling is the risk associated with it. Some more disadvantages of short selling are listed. 

• Regulations of the market 

Although market authorities allow short selling, there may be particular limits on certain stocks to protect investors and prevent panic choices that might cause a jump in stock prices. These restrictions are in place to prevent price spikes. 

• Timing error 

The investor’s choice of when to acquire and sell shares of stock is critical to the success of any short-selling strategy they use. Even while it’s possible that stock prices won’t drop anytime soon, an investor who is sitting on gains from a particular company is still responsible for making payments toward the margin and interest. 

• Leverage 

Trading on margin is required while short selling. In this scenario, a trader borrows money from a broker in exchange for holding an asset, which is referred to as collateral. They are also required to keep a specific proportion of the account’s balance in the form of a margin at all times. In the event that the margin is not sufficient to meet the requirements, the trader will be requested to make up the difference. 

• Choosing the Right Stocks 

The majority of businesses get knocked about by market fluctuations. The corporation is capable of recovering from any drop in stock value and bringing it back to levels that are acceptable by taking the necessary course of action. When selecting stocks, if a trader chooses the incorrect firm, he runs the risk of incurring losses by taking a short position, whilst those who take long positions have a chance of realising gains.

Why do people engage in Short Selling?

There are many different motivations for people to engage in short selling but the main reason is to take advantage of the falling market. Some people use it as a method to protect their investment portfolio against possible losses in other types of investments. Some people engage in this practise as a kind of speculation in the hope that the value of an asset would fall in the future. An investor may choose to engage in short selling of a stock.

Is Short Selling allowed in the India Stock Market?

Yes, short selling is allowed in India. But it is often seen as a dishonest practice. Short selling is a helpful tool for an investor, whether the investor is doing it on a professional or personal basis. 

Short selling gives investors the opportunity to generate profits from a fall in the price of a stock, manage risk in their portfolios or holdings, reduce their tax liability, or take advantage of arbitrage opportunities.

The concept of short selling is often misunderstood since it is difficult to understand and takes place behind the scenes, away from the view of many investors. The practise of short selling is seen as a speculative investment due to the high level of risk it entails.

Is it a wise idea to engage in Short Selling?

No. The practise of short selling is seen as a kind of risky investing. The dangers are readily apparent. You can only speculate that the price of the security will go down; thus, you risk having your money go down the drain if the price goes up instead. 

Short selling is a method that experienced investors employ to protect themselves from loss, however there is a significant risk that this tactic may fail. Let’s get one thing straight: shorting is fraught with peril. In point of fact, short selling is very fraught with danger. The greatest danger is of you losing your shorts. The value of the majority of stocks rises over the course of time.

For that issue, even inflation ought to force part of the price of its shares up if a company’s performance marginally improves over the course of the years.  The potential scale of any damages incurred is the subject of the second risk. When you sell short, the amount of money you might lose is virtually infinite. The worst thing that may happen if you take a long position is that you will lose your money.

Arjun Remesh

Head of Content

Arjun is a seasoned stock market content expert with over 7 years of experience in stock market, technical & fundamental analysis. Since 2020, he has been a key contributor to Strike platform. Arjun is an active stock market investor with his in-depth stock market analysis knowledge. Arjun is also an certified stock market researcher from Indiacharts, mentored by Rohit Srivastava.

Shivam Gaba

Reviewer of Content

Shivam is a stock market content expert with CFTe certification. He is been trading from last 8 years in indian stock market. He has a vast knowledge in technical analysis, financial market education, product management, risk assessment, derivatives trading & market Research. He won Zerodha 60-Day Challenge thrice in a row. He is being mentored by Rohit Srivastava, Indiacharts.