1.   By subtracting the amount of stock held by the so-called insiders, investors can determine the size of the public float of a stock.

2.   Emerson would rather talk about the possibility of a short squeeze, noting that the short position is very large relative to the public float.

3.   Lightly traded stocks or those with small public floats are more susceptible to price swings than issues that are widely held.

4.   Instead of a public float, the company is intent on raising funds through a bond issue, Mr Xie said.

5.   Murdoch also said that the public float of subsidiary Fox Entertainment Group would go ahead.

6.   Grollo said that the project, which would take six years to construct, could be funded by a public float.