Intercontinental Exchange : NYSE short interest fell 1.4 percent in late December

NEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange fell 1.4 percent in late December, the exchange said on Tuesday.

As of Dec. 31, short interest fell to about 17.393 billion shares, compared with 17.640 billion shares as of Dec. 15.

Investors who sell securities short borrow shares and then sell them, expecting the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference.