Okay, Catz, you are completely correct. Short Sales are short term capital gains.
It's time to end the discussion regarding long-term capital gains for all of the shorts covering.
Catz posted IRS pub 550, which has the IRS position that all short sales are short term capital gain. I just was reading the Internal Revenue Code section 1233 and there is a small window that may lead to long-term capital gains, but I'm certain that none or at most very small percentage of short's are also holding substantial similar shares of WAMU.
Shorts will cover when they feel it is in their best interest. Period. If it is in the next week, prior to the anniversary, then it will be because they know or believe that settlement is coming and share price will be increasing.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
