NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Short interest on the Nasdaq fell 2.9 percent
in late August, the exchange said on Thursday, suggesting a decrease in bearish
sentiment in the stock market.
For story please see [ID:nN10413902].

Below are the five Nasdaq stocks that experienced the largest increases and
decreases in their short positions from mid- to late-August, according to
information released by the exchange.

The five companies with the largest overall short positions are also
listed.

The latest date is as of Aug. 31, while the previous period's data is as of
Aug. 14.
COMPANY AUG 31 AUG 14 NET CHANGE PCT CHANGE
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FIVE BIGGEST INCREASES:
E*TRADE Financial (ETFC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 343,802,919 323,948,983 19,853,936 6.13
Cell Therapeutics (CTIC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 41,059,835 31,006,117 10,053,718 32.42
DIRECTV Group Inc (DTV.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 81,398,956 73,298,910 8,100,046 11.05
Sun Microsystems (JAVA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 21,607,596 14,217,951 7,389,645 51.97
Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 72,214,160 65,093,567 7,120,593 10.94
FIVE BIGGEST DECREASES:
Popular Inc (BPOP.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 14,916,953 50,343,215 -35,426,262 -70.37
Dell Inc (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 44,986,739 64,961,089 -19,974,350 -30.75
Intel Corporation (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 70,036,880 88,267,111 -18,230,231 -20.65
Applied Materials (AMAT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 39,271,407 47,294,369 -8,022,962 -16.96
Cell Genesys Inc CEGE.O 2,294,716 9,783,259 -7,488,543 -76.54
FIVE BIGGEST POSITIONS:
E*TRADE Financial (ETFC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 343,802,919 323,948,983 19,853,936 6.13
Sirius XM Radio (SIRI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 124,769,729 119,653,289 5,116,440 4.28
Level 3 Comms Inc (LVLT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 91,609,772 93,816,330 -2,206,558 -2.35
DIRECTV Group Inc (DTV.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 81,398,956 73,298,910 8,100,046 11.05
Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) 72,214,160 65,093,567 7,120,593 10.94
Source: Nasdaq data as of August 31, Reuters Estimates