NEW YORK, April 24 (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange fell 2.9 percent in mid-April, the exchange said on Friday, suggesting a decrease in bearish sentiment in the stock market.

As of April 15, short interest fell to about 15.703 billion shares, compared to 16.173 billion shares as of March 31.

Short interest as of April 15 was equal to 4.11 percent of the total shares outstanding the exchange said.

Investors who sell securities "short" profit from betting stocks will fall. Short-sellers borrow shares and then sell them, waiting for the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference. (Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)