Goldman Sachs prime brokerage data shows hedge funds have built short positions in stocks to a near five-year high, while global fundamental long-short funds lost 2.9% through October 15 and suffered losses every trading day in that stretch. On October 22, the S&P 500 fell 1.21% to 7,663.43 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6%, even though most stocks rose as the selloff stayed concentrated in megacap tech. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index lost over 6%, Meta fell 6.98% after its third-quarter report, and the 10-year Treasury yield dropped 19.3 basis points to 4.953%. Fundstrat's Tom Lee said the selloff is nearly over, while the article notes that a yield rebound, weak megacap results or a hawkish Fed would prove the shorts right. It also warns that rising prices could force short sellers to buy back shares in a short squeeze.
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▼ Likely negativeSPDR S&P 500 ETF
Relevance: medium
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/22/2026 | 764.02 |
| Change that session | -1.17% |
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