U.K. hedge fund short bets surge fivefold as Burnham policy shift stirs equity opportunities

According to CNBC, hedge fund disclosed short positions against U.K.-listed stocks surged fivefold in the first half of 2026 as investors prepared for a broader set of long and short opportunities under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham, who took office this week, outlined a "cost-of-living government" and a 10-year plan to reindustrialize Britain, while also announcing plans to remove sales tax from household electricity. White & Case said the number of U.K. companies with aggregate disclosed short positions of at least 5% of shares rose to 27 in the first half of 2026 from five a year earlier. Kernow Asset Management's Alyx Wood said the firm is bearish on U.K. utilities and is short Vistry Group, while long Berkeley Group. White & Case also said Vistry and Ibstock were among the most heavily shorted names, with aggregate short positions of almost 16% and 13%, respectively.