Dreamchaser: One of the best articles on short selling, I've read on short selling is before, but before that, A/S=authorized shares. The number of shares a corporation is authorized to issue. O/S=outstanding shares. The number of shares sold by the corporation, hence outstanding and subject to sold by the investor back to the corporation. There has been a lot of talk about short selling. I believe the best way to answer this is to refer you to one of the best articles I've read on the subject. Here's the link. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/nakedshorting.asp. I believe you'll understand why the SEC imposed new regulations, effective April 1, 2004 on naked shorting. Good luck!!!
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