spob - short interest has decresed by 23% in past month (actually the buybacks, though much criticised on this thread, have prevented a sub £6 price), but I would expect a substantial reversal come Jan 21st, lots of closing will be going on then. Shell, I have no idea, don't follow them. Still some heavy short position out there though, but must admit it seems to be a rather strange strategy for any serious hedge funds at this stage in the global economic cycle. That would imply that there are a couple of hedge funds who are complete strategic "cowboys", could bode ill for a number of the financial stocks.
PS. I added another 2k today and looking at another 5k after January 1st.. this is a lovely stock to hold ;-)