Short Interest in Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL) Expands By 25.9%

Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL – Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 444,300 shares, an increase of 25.9% from the April 15th total of 352,900 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 335,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.3 days.

NYSE:SSL traded up $0.53 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $24.39. 2,502 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 319,763. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.43. Sasol has a 52 week low of $12.74 and a 52 week high of $25.90. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $24.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.80.

SSL has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on Sasol in a research note on Thursday, March 31st. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Sasol from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 24th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded Sasol from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 16th.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SSL. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its position in shares of Sasol by 2,016.9% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 10,267 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 9,782 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Sasol by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 48,771 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,180,000 after buying an additional 1,925 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Sasol by 22.9% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 36,333 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $879,000 after buying an additional 6,778 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Sasol by 43.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,886 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $674,000 after buying an additional 8,436 shares during the period. Finally, Mairs & Power Inc. bought a new position in Sasol in the 1st quarter worth about $208,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.44% of the company’s stock.

About Sasol (Get Rating)

Sasol Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated chemical and energy company in South Africa. The company operates through Mining, Gas, Fuels, Chemicals Africa, Chemicals America, and Chemicals Eurasia segments. It operates coal mines; and develops and manages upstream interests in oil and gas exploration and production in Mozambique, South Africa, Canada, and Gabon.

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