Both companies are in the top 10 list of the most shorted companies in the UK, as some hedge funds bet against their future success.

Sainsbury’s has 7.73% of its shares in the hands of short-sellers, up from 6.92%, according to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) daily short positions update, while 7% of Hammerson’s shares are shorted compared with 6.32% last week.

Developments in the US, where retailer GameStop’s shares soared as the Reddit group bought in, do not seem to have worried short-sellers of the two UK companies.