Example to illustrate:
Lets say I hold 100k of Equity which I intend to sell in 2011. In the meantime,Kizee has worked out that the price will go to Ksh12 between now and end of November and so decides he wants to go short on Equity. He decides that he wants to go short using 50,000 Equity shares. Luckily,we both use AA as our broker.
Kizee will go to AA and put in his order of going short of Equity for 50,000 shares. AA can then (with my permission and offcourse paying me say Ksh0.40 per share lending fee) sell 50,000 shares at current share price and in effect credit Kizee's CDs account with cash (please note Kizee can't access this cash until he decides to close the position).
At the end of November or whenever Equity gets to Ksh12,Kizee will buy back the Ksh50,000 which AA will credit back into my CDs account.
Result:
Kizee makes 50,000 * (13.45-0.40-12)=Ksh52,500 before broker charges
MainaT makes 50,000* 0.40 =20,000 before broker charges
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