Last night after the close, the major exchanges released their mid-month short interest data, or as some would say, their lack of short interest data. As shown in the chart below, the average short interest as a percentage of float for stocks in the S&P 1500 is currently at 6.9%. This is the lowest level since February 2007, when the average was 6.6%. In 2008, it was the bulls who argued that high levels of short interest were a reason the market should rally. With the recent data, however, it is now the bears who will argue that low levels of short interest suggest that investors are now too bullish.

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