Here are the heavily-shorted global stocks that nobody's talking about

Published Thu, Jan 28 202110:10 AM ESTUpdated Tue, Feb 2 202112:12 PM EST

Amateur traders are frantically buying the most shorted stocks on U.S. markets, causing their share prices to rocket. Shares of brick-and-mortar gaming shop GameStop have soared over the past couple of weeks, as retail investors on a Reddit forum bought the stock , targeting it because it has been so heavily shorted by Wall Street hedge funds. Reddit investors have started to pounce on other heavily-shorted stocks as well, including movie theater chain AMC Entertainment and retailer Bed, Bath & Beyond , in their battle to take on short-sellers. Short-sellers buy shares on loan from a broker, with a view to making a profit in the price difference if the stock falls when they resell it. European firms like Nokia and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE have also been caught up in the storm, but — so far — the most-shorted stocks in places like Tokyo and London appear untouched by the retail traders. Here's a rundown of some of the most heavily-shorted stocks outside of the U.S. In the U.K., Premier Oil is the company with the most outstanding shares on loan in Europe, at over 22% of its total stock, according IHS Markit data. The analysis firm uses the outstanding shares on loan as a proxy for how much it's being shorted. The world's second-largest movie theater chain Cineworld is another short-seller favorite, with nearly 21% of its outstanding shares on loan. The shutdown of the movie business due to the coronavirus pandemic forced the U.K.-based firm to close its theaters in Britain and the U.S. in October . U.K.-based educational publisher Pearson is the third most shorted stock in Europe, according to the data, with nearly 15% of its shares on loan. Pearson issued a number of profit warnings in recent years, as it underwent a lengthy and difficult transition into a more digital business model. British provider of oilfield services Petrofac also has around 15% of its shares on loan. Petrofac's share price has suffered over the past few years, amid an investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery. German biotechnology company Evotec is the fifth most heavily shorted stock in Europe, with almost 15% of its shares on loan. Melvin Capital, which closed out its short position in GameStop making a huge loss, reportedly has more than a 6% short position in Evotec, according to Reuters. Most borrowed in Europe Premier Oil Plc Cineworld Group Plc Pearson Plc Petrofac Ltd Evotec Se Encavis Ag Basilea Pharmaceutica Ag Wereldhave Nv Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget I Norden Ab Scandic Hotels Group Ab In Japan, health care website operator Medical Net , communications equipment company Media Global Links and telecommunications company Nippon Telephone were among the most-shorted stocks, according to the data. Here is the full list: Medical Net Inc Media Global Links Co Ltd Nippon Telephone Inc Fruta Fruta Inc Cave Interactive Co Ltd Edia Co Ltd Anritsu Corp Pharma Foods International Co Ltd Chukyoiyakuhin Co Ltd Aruhi Corp Meanwhile, in Australia, online travel agency Webjet , regenerative medicine company Mesoblast and salmon producer Tassal Group topped the list. The full list can be found below. Webjet Ltd Mesoblast Ltd Tassal Group Ltd Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd Myer Holdings Ltd De Grey Mining Ltd Speedcast International Ltd Alkane Resources Ltd Tyro Payments Ltd Zip Co Ltd

People are reflected in a window at the Australian Securities Exchange in Sydney on March 17, 2020.

David Gray | AFP | Getty Images

Amateur traders are frantically buying the most shorted stocks on U.S. markets, causing their share prices to rocket.

Shares of brick-and-mortar gaming shop GameStop have soared over the past couple of weeks, as retail investors on a Reddit forum bought the stock, targeting it because it has been so heavily shorted by Wall Street hedge funds.

Reddit investors have started to pounce on other heavily-shorted stocks as well, including movie theater chain AMC Entertainment and retailer Bed, Bath & Beyond, in their battle to take on short-sellers. Short-sellers buy shares on loan from a broker, with a view to making a profit in the price difference if the stock falls when they resell it.

European firms like Nokia and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE have also been caught up in the storm, but — so far — the most-shorted stocks in places like Tokyo and London appear untouched by the retail traders.