Most retail the shorts are implemented through CFDs (contracts for difference) with their brokers so for most small players what you say is true!
CFDs usually don't involve the buying and selling of shares on the market because they are derivative contracts between two entities betting on the direction the share-price will take.
Basically just like a punter and a bookie the bets don't actually effect the running horse at all. Basically the brokers only need to buy or sell or borrow shares occasionally to manage their risk while they take commissions from both side of retail sentiment.
This is why whining about retail shorts driving the SP down on HC is complete nonsense! It is actually the other way round the SP movement determines the results of both retail longs and shorts with CFDs!
Every investor should at least try to understand how to short with a CFD even if they decide not to play that game. It is important to keep in mind you are betting against your broker with CFDs and you need to be really good at this stuff to win at that game IMO! But there are times when it is a good idea.
The story is different with the large players though, when they short they actually sell borrowed shares on the open market this does effect the price directly. As it does when they buy shares to cover their borrowed shares. Some of these even engage in naked shorts by selling shares they have not borrowed or own! This is sometimes banned because it is manipulative.
LYC Price at posting:
20.5¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held
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