We all recall when the Critical Metals and ASX 300 indexes rebalanced the short sold shares were covered with large after market sales in November 2022. The 10 million shares short sold at the time most likely were borrowed from these substantial holders. These shares were used to manipulate the share price into the nether regions of the market where large profits were taken by short sellers at the index rebalances. I imagine the sweetheart deal to buy back the shares would have been agreed prior to the shares being borrowed. At that time, they only covered 6.5 million shares.
We are now approaching 6 million shares short sold. I would suggest the shares are again being borrowed from the above corporations. Unfortunately most of us are unaware of what sweetheart deals may be in the background of the current trading.
The above holdings were taken from last years annual report. There have been no changes in substantial holdings since the annual report or following the index rebalances in November 2022. I ponder where were the index funds share holdings were reported? If a large corporations initially reported the index funds shares as part of their own holdings and then purchased these same index fund shares on the index rebalances, effectively there would be no change in substantial holding. There would be a change of ownership of the shares from the index fund to the the corporation.
Hopefully a more knowledgable Hot Copper member may be able to enlighten me. I notice that 6.5 million shares would be below 5% threshold, therefore no substantial change notice would be required. I am looking forward to this years annual report and substantial holders listings.
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