Market history · 04
A short squeeze took Volkswagen from about €210 to over €1,000 in 2 trading days
Volkswagen · 2008
- Porsche (shares + options)
- 74%
- A German state
- ~20%
- Left to buy
- at most ~6%
- On loan, mostly to shorts
- ~12.8%
- Price in 2 trading days
- ~€210 → over €1,000
"At most about 6% of the shares were left to buy."
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In 2008, a short squeeze took Volkswagen from about 210 euros to over 1,000 in 2 trading days and briefly made it the most valuable listed company in the world.
Porsche said it held shares and options covering 74% and a German state held about 20%, so at most about 6% was left to buy while about 12.8% was on loan, mostly to short sellers, per Reuters. One finance paper on the episode cites short selling losses of more than 20 billion euros.
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