RE:RE:RE:Short DataNo CytochromeP, there's some incorrect statements in there.
1. Lots of reasons people short stock. Shorting could be used as a hedge against a long position. Shorting doesn't necessarily mean they think a sector is heading south it could be a way to hedge against losses, but also limits gains.
2. You don't short on the options market. Options are contracts to buy or sell in the future. They don't represent shares until the contracts are executed. Only the right to buy or sell at a predetermined price.
When you're short, you are borrowing shares from your broker to buy back later at a lower price.
3. There is no agreement other than to buy back the shares later. You can short a stock for the rest of your life if you have the margin room to cover fluctuations in price.
4. When you cover your shorts you must buy back the shares in the open market, as such if there's a short squeeze ie. shorts get caught off guard by positive news, there could be a rush to buy back in so the share price should move quickly upwards all things being equal.
Options and short selling are not the same thing.