BUZZ-IQE: short sellers still chipping away

** Short-sellers continue to raise their bets against semiconductor manufacturer IQE (LSE: IQE.L - news) after it reported half-year results

** Stock has been one of the AIM index's best performers of late, rising nearly eightfold since June 2016 on the possibility of a windfall from major customer Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news)

** Short interest seen pre-results has gained traction - four funds now have short positions totalling 6.4 pct of the company's share capital, making it one of the most shorted stocks on AIM amid concern valuation has run ahead & Apple risk

** Long-term shorts Ennismore and Marshall Wace were joined by WorldQuant and Coltrane Asset Management in September, according to filings

** Marshall Wace has raised its bet against the company to 2.8 pct, from 0.6 pct in early August

** Share (LSE: SHRE.L - news) price has been sensitive to Apple-related news, falling on Sept 13 after it was announced the iPhone X would ship later than planned