The Flow vs. Position Distinction
As of the trading session on October 21, 2026, FINRA reported that the median off-exchange short-volume ratio reached 53.2% across 3,603 covered symbols. It is critical for investors to understand that this data represents daily trading flow—including market-maker hedging—rather than open short interest positions.
Data Interpretation
Short volume is a measure of the number of shares marked short during a single session. Because this data is published daily, it provides a real-time look at short-selling pressure. However, it does not account for offsetting buying activity or long-term positions. Investors should combine this daily flow data with bi-monthly FINRA short interest reports to get a complete picture of a stock's positioning. Relying solely on daily volume can lead to misinterpretations of institutional sentiment.
Signal data sourced from Kresmion. This post is an original analysis prepared by The Forensic Ledger from publicly available data. Not investment advice.
Not investment advice. This is original reporting and analysis prepared by The Forensic Ledger from publicly available data. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Always consult the original source and a licensed professional. See our full disclaimer and source-citation policy.