Quote from Triple X:
The problem is, there is very little retail money in the market. In the past, the %short would indicate what the "pros" were doing. But the pros now are getting squeezed.
Yep, very little direct retail moola, despite Wall Street's 24/7 efforts. But quite a chunk via mutual funds & 401-K's. Wall Street will want to confisicate it someday before the boomers start cashing in.
As for "pro" short interest, they're just as apt to buy puts or index futures. Leverage and distorted audit trail (albeit with time decay). Or, less aggresive long AND hedged with puts. Or writing calls meaning they don't mind being called away (riding "it" as "long" as "it" lasts).
Don't bank too much squeezes. That's for illiquid stocks and/or over-levered amateurs.