ASX Short Selling Weekly: 19 Oct – 23 Oct 2026
The most shorted ASX stocks this week (GECV, DRO, LOT), the biggest increases and covering in short interest, and director buying in heavily shorted stocks. ASIC data as at 19 Oct.
As of 19 Oct, average short interest on the ASX stood at 1.6%, up from 1.58% on 12 Oct. Betagblcthvaluesetf ETF Units (GECV) recorded the largest build, rising 33.48% to 34.86%, making it the most shorted stock. This surge placed GECV in the top 20 for the first time. Other notable increases included Beta Aus Comp Bond ETF Units (OZBD), which rose 3.43% to 3.49%, and MAAS Group Holdings Limited (MGH), up 2.23% to 2.53%. Conversely, Vaneck Gold Bullion ETF Units (NUGG) saw the biggest covering action, falling 2.78% to 0.39%. Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited (DMP) also reduced its short position by 1.69% to 10.45%. New entrants to the top 20 included Glencore plc (GLC) at 13.39% and Global X Japan TOPIX 100 ETF (J100) at 11.67%.
The 10 most shorted ASX stocks
Short positions as at 19 Oct, with the change since 12 Oct.
| Rank | Stock | Company | Short interest | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GECV | Betagblcthvaluesetf ETF Units | 34.86% | +33.48% |
| 2 | DRO | DroneShield Limited | 15.93% | -0.30% |
| 3 | LOT | Lotus Resources Limited | 15.78% | +0.22% |
| 4 | BOE | Boss Energy Limited | 14.94% | -0.17% |
| 5 | PLS | PLS Group Limited | 13.60% | +0.70% |
| 6 | GLC | Glencore plc | 13.39% | new |
| 7 | ZIP | Zip Co Limited | 13.31% | +0.41% |
| 8 | PDN | Paladin Energy Ltd | 13.23% | +1.41% |
| 9 | IPX | IperionX Limited | 12.50% | -0.38% |
| 10 | LYC | Lynas Rare Earths Limited | 12.02% | +0.21% |
Biggest increases in short interest
Where short sellers added the most, among stocks with at least 2% short interest.
| Stock | Company | Sector | Before | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GECV | Betagblcthvaluesetf ETF Units | – | 1.38% | 34.86% | +33.48% |
| OZBD | Beta Aus Comp Bond ETF Units | – | 0.07% | 3.49% | +3.43% |
| FSUB | Vaneck Fixed Subd ETF Units | – | 0.03% | 2.50% | +2.46% |
| MGH | MAAS Group Holdings Limited | Industrials | 0.30% | 2.53% | +2.23% |
| GDG | Generation Development Group Limited | Financials | 7.52% | 9.07% | +1.55% |
| PDN | Paladin Energy Ltd | Energy | 11.82% | 13.23% | +1.41% |
| ELV | Elevra Lithium Limited | Materials | 6.55% | 7.90% | +1.35% |
| LTR | Liontown Limited | Materials | 7.19% | 8.26% | +1.08% |
Biggest short covering
Where short positions fell the most. Covering can add buying pressure, but it can also just mean the bearish thesis has played out.
| Stock | Company | Sector | Before | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUGG | Vaneck Gold Bullion ETF Units | – | 3.17% | 0.39% | -2.78% |
| DMP | Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited | Consumer Discretionary | 12.14% | 10.45% | -1.69% |
| GYG | Guzman y Gomez Limited | Consumer Discretionary | 5.57% | 4.36% | -1.21% |
| AYA | Artrya Limited | Health Care | 10.05% | 8.92% | -1.13% |
| RIO | Rio Tinto Group | Materials | 9.65% | 8.76% | -0.89% |
| DGT | DigiCo Infrastructure REIT | Real Estate | 5.13% | 4.27% | -0.86% |
| TWE | Treasury Wine Estates Limited | Consumer Staples | 10.39% | 9.61% | -0.78% |
| RFF | Rural Funds Group | Real Estate | 3.35% | 2.64% | -0.72% |
New to the top 20
GECV (34.86%, rank 1), GLC (13.39%, rank 6), J100 (11.67%, rank 11), DYL (9.99%, rank 18).
Directors buying heavily shorted stocks
On-market buys lodged this week in stocks with at least 3% short interest: insiders taking the other side of the short trade.
| Stock | Short interest | Director | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPX | 12.50% | Todd HANNIGAN | 525,000 | $1,881,176 |
| CAT | 6.67% | Mr Willians Lopes | 374,555 | $1,113,119 |
| IPX | 12.50% | Anastasios ARIMA | 138,720 | $497,229 |
| IPX | 12.50% | Lorraine M. Martin | 4,100 | $100,491 |
| IPX | 12.50% | R. Tony Tripeny | 3,846 | $99,996 |
| 4DX | 10.63% | Julian Bernard Kingsley Sutton | 13,055 | $99,994 |
| AGL | 5.02% | CHRISTINE FRANCIS HOLMAN | 11,000 | $96,250 |
| PNI | 6.25% | Christa Lenard | 2,941 | $49,997 |
Price-sensitive news from heavily shorted stocks
Announcements this week from stocks with at least 5% short interest.
- PLS (13.60% short, 21 Oct): PLS prices US$700M Senior Unsecured Notes Offering
- ZIP (13.31% short, 23 Oct): 1Q FY27 results update
- TLX (10.79% short, 21 Oct): Telix Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Performance
- GDG (9.07% short, 22 Oct): September 2026 quarterly update
- GMD (8.68% short, 22 Oct): Quarterly Activities Report - September 2026
- NXT (8.10% short, 19 Oct): Trading Halt
- NXT (8.10% short, 21 Oct): M3 Melbourne Power Delay & Revised FY27 Guidance
- BPT (7.84% short, 21 Oct): FY27 First Quarter Activities Report
- BPT (7.84% short, 23 Oct): Beach to materially expand acreage position in the Taroom
- NCK (6.68% short, 21 Oct): Trading Update and 1H FY27 Profit Guidance
- ABB (6.30% short, 23 Oct): AGM Presentations and Trading Update
- INA (5.76% short, 20 Oct): Warburg Pincus Further Revised Indicative Proposal Update
Short positions come from ASIC's daily short position reports, published four business days after the trade date. This report uses positions as at 19 Oct and compares them with 12 Oct. 761 stocks had reportable short positions. This is data, not investment advice.