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Despite the recent volatility in Firstfed's (FED) share price, stock borrowers continue to hold their positions. Utilisation is at 81.71%, which represents 58% of the market cap. Days to cover is 20 days and the share price is currently $49.29. Few shortsellers have closed out their positions over recent weeks, despite the share price falling from $58 on July 2nd to an intraday low of $38.73 on 6th August.
Isetan, the Japanese department store group which has announced that it is in merger talks with Mitsukoshi has seen a dramatic rise in borrowing since 22 August. 
Utilisation has risen from 25% on 22 August to 62% today. The % of market cap continues to rise to 6.48% on 29th August. We have also observed significant changes on the supply side, as lenders reduce the amount of shares they are willing to lend.
Borrowers have been very active in IKB over the last week. Utilisation has risen from 72% of the available supply on 23 August to 92% on 27 August. 
Looking at the dividend-related lending, it is clear that this is genuine short interest, rather than dividend-related. The share price is currently €13.69. 
The two largest short positions in the ASX 50 are Macquarie and Wesfarmers but traders have been increasing their borrowing positions in Macquarie over the last month while covering Wesfarmers. In the heatmap 
below, the largest borrows are represented by the largest squares. Dark red represents the largest increase in utilisation over the previous month, while dark green represents the largest amount of short covering. In the ASX 50 as a whole, traders have been closing off shorts in Rio Tinto at the fastest rate.
Stock lending in Commonwealth Bank of Australia has risen sharply from 21% of available supply on 16th August to 29% on 24th August. 
This is the highest level of stock lending in over two years and represents 3.08% of the market cap. Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 1.8% in trading today to close at A$39.29.
Fairfax Holdings is a company which has been in the news a lot lately. We thought you might be interested to see the current stock lending situation in this stock. Please click on the attached chart to view current utilisation levels, based on data at close of business on 24th August 2007. Market cap on loan is currently 12.33% and the stock price is CAD 217.
Stock borrowers have recently targeted Leucadian National Corp. (LUK), the US conglomerate with interests in real estate, medical products and lumber refinishing company. Utilisation jumped from 52% on 21 August to 71% on 24th August, the day on which the company joined the S&P 500. 
This represents 10.41% of the market cap.
Stock borrowing has risen sharply in Yule Catto, the UK-based speciality chemicals producer since the start of the year. 
Utilisation levels are currently 43% of the available supply, which represents 4.5% of the market cap. The company recently announced that it was closing two plants in Europe. The share price is currently £2.34.
Stock borrowers have been gradually increasing their short positions in Global Crossing since the middle of June. 
Utilisation has risen from 23% of available supply to 70.6% today. Market cap on loan is now at a two year high at 14.04%. The share price is currently $19.47.
News that Bank of America has bought a $2bln stake in CFC caused the stock to rise 20.3% in after hours trading to $26.25. The bounce in the stock price since 16th August did not cause the majority of borrowers to close off their positions, as can be seen on the two week chart. 
Market cap on loan fell from 31% to 27% between Monday and Tuesday, but the sharp price movement in after hours trading indicates a classic short squeeze. The stock has now recovered most of the losses since July 31st.
