Short interest in Trump Media climbs after recent rally, S3 Partners says

Jan 2 (Reuters) – Short interest in U.S. President Donald Trump's social media company has jumped following a recent merger announcement, suggesting some traders expect the stock to give back more of its recent gains, according to financial data firm S3 Partners. Shares of money-losing Trump Media & Technology Group are up over 30% since December 18, when it announced a $6 billion merger with Google-backed TAE Technologies. The stock had jumped as much as 63% in the two days following the announcement. Since the merger announcement, short interest in Trump Media shares has climbed 31% to nearly 16 million shares, around the highest level since October, S3 Partners said in a report on Friday. With the stock adding 4% on Friday to $13.77, that short interest represents bets worth about $218 million that the company's shares will decline. Trump Media's all-stock deal is an ambitious bet on the power boom spurred by artificial intelligence data centers and adds to the Trump family's growing roster of diverse ventures, from cryptocurrency to real estate holdings and mobile services. Trump has 115 million shares in Trump Media, roughly 40% of the company. His stake in the merged company would be roughly 20%.  Shares of Trump Media have lost almost 60% over the past 12 months. (Reporting by Noel RandewichEditing by Bill Berkrot)

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