Definition

Noun: 1. The aggregate of short sales on an open market: This refers to the total number or value of short sale transactions within a specific market during a given period. 2. A brokerage account of someone who sells short (sells securities he does not own): This is a specific type of investment account that allows an investor to engage in the practice of short selling, where they sell borrowed securities.

Usage Examples

• The financial report indicated a significant increase in the short account, suggesting many traders were betting against the stock.
• To execute that trade, you must first open a short account with a broker that permits such transactions.
• Analysts monitor the short account as a sentiment indicator for the broader market.

Advanced Usage

• "Covering a short account": Refers to the act of buying back securities to close out a short position and return the borrowed shares to the lender.
  • The rally forced many traders to cover their short accounts, accelerating the price increase.

Variants and Related Words

• Short Sale (n): The individual transaction of selling a borrowed security.
  • He made a profit from a short sale of the company's stock.
• Short Position (n): The state of having sold a borrowed security, which represents a bet that its price will fall.
  • The investor maintained a large short position in the technology sector.

Synonyms

• (For the brokerage account sense): Margin account (specifically for short selling), speculative account.
• (For the aggregate sense): Short interest (a closely related concept measuring the total volume of shares sold short).

Related Phrases

• Short squeeze: A rapid price increase that forces traders with short positions (short accounts) to buy back the stock to limit their losses, which can drive the price even higher.
  • The unexpected news triggered a massive short squeeze.

Noun

1. the aggregate of short sales on an open market
2. a brokerage account of someone who sells short (sells securities he does not own)