NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Short interest on the New York Stock Exchange rose 2.4 percent in mid-December, the exchange said on Tuesday.

As of Dec. 13, short interest rose to about 16.155 billion shares, compared with 15.784 billion shares as of Nov. 29.

Investors who sell securities short borrow shares and then sell them, expecting the stock to fall so they can buy the shares back at the lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference.