Average short interest among U.S. homebuilding companies surged22 basis points to 9.06% of outstanding shares during the first half of March, from 8.84% at the end of February.

Lennar Corp.posted the biggest short-interest growth during the period from Feb. 29 to March15, soaring 193 basis points to 11.97% of its outstanding shares.

William Lyon Homes,meanwhile, experienced the largest decline in short interest and was the most-shortedhomebuilding stock during the period, shedding 78 basis points to 25.81% of itsoutstanding shares.