NEW YORK, April 9 (Reuters) - Short interest on the

Nasdaq rose 0.6% in late March, the exchange said on Wednesday.

As of March 31, short interest climbed to about 15.754

billion shares, compared with 15.664 billion shares as of March

14.

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.

Shorting can also be part of a hedging strategy.