1.   Placer Dome Inc., the gold mining company, had the largest increase in short interest in the month, excluding companies with stock splits.

2.   Royal Dutch Petroleum shares had the largest increase in short interest on the Big Board.

3.   Some analysts consider an increase in short interest bullish because the borrowed shares must eventually be bought back.

4.   Some analysts actually consider an increase in short interest bullish, because the borrowed shares must eventually be bought back.

5.   The three companies whose shares had the largest increases in short interest on the New York Stock Exchange were Banc One Corp., International Paper Co. and Unisys Corp.