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Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

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41–50 of 906 posts

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#41

There's been some speculation that what WSB are doing could be market manipulation or otherwise illegal. The fact that this statement only mention retail investors in the context of protecting them makes me suspect that the SEC's not going for it.

A SEC investigation will take time. I wouldn't judge much based on their general initial statement.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#42
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Abusive or manipulative trading activity that is prohibited by the federal securities laws." Is that aimed at "professional hedge funds" or self-proclaimed "autists" in an internet forum?

The big traders probably have friends in high places, so I suspect they're going after WSB and not wall street who caused the issues in the first place.

There is no "probably." It is well-known that people leave their civil servant jobs at regulatory industries, after putting in their time, and bring their know-how and connections to big banks and hedge funds in return for cushy salaries.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#43

"The Commission will closely review actions taken by regulated entities that may disadvantage investors or otherwise unduly inhibit their ability to trade certain securities. In addition, we will act to protect retail investors when the facts demonstrate abusive or manipulative trading activity that is prohibited by the federal securities laws. Market participants should be careful to avoid such activity." This shoul…

In other news there are reports of men in $4,000 suits with shovels and pick axes working above New York's many fiber optic lines.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#44
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the mentioned stocks? Very high. However for the broader market; GME and friends are tiny. Ristricting trading is a way of managing risk.

The last giant crash was triggered by a single party (Bear Stearns) running out of credit. Do not underestimate the events that could follow if this volatility destabilizes a large market participant.

There's definitely going to be some impact on other stocks, as at the very least, retail trading apps overcompensate and block buys on other stocks (including Freetrade for all the US stocks right now). Hard to quantify the magnitude of the impact, though.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#45
post #32

There's been some speculation that what WSB are doing could be market manipulation or otherwise illegal. The fact that this statement only mention retail investors in the context of protecting them makes me suspect that the SEC's not going for it.

Could be? It's an open, publicly-documented market manipulation event. How can there be any question about it? You might decide that this kind of manipulation is OK due to it's stated goals, but that doesn't make it not manipulation.

There's a bit of nuance. We're using the word "manipulation" to mean two different things -- one is the colloquial meaning, and yes it's very obvious that the price was manipulated in that sense. As far as the legal definition of manipulation is concerned though, we haven't necessarily met all the requirements.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#46

There's been some speculation that what WSB are doing could be market manipulation or otherwise illegal. The fact that this statement only mention retail investors in the context of protecting them makes me suspect that the SEC's not going for it.

Well... they will start by redefining "market manipulation" to encompass all activity they now consider disruptive (also suitably redefined). This is America today.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#47
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could be? It's an open, publicly-documented market manipulation event. How can there be any question about it? You might decide that this kind of manipulation is OK due to it's stated goals, but that doesn't make it not manipulation.

>Could be? It's an open, publicly-documented market manipulation event. Strange question, what's the bar for market manipulation? For example if a company took out debt to buy their own stock in order to drive up the price would that count?

If the company were to issue a statement that they believed their actions would raise the share price, then yes.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/78i

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#48
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It specifies trading activity . I read this as a warning to WSB, not their brokerages.

> we will act to protect retail investors when the facts demonstrate abusive or manipulative trading activity Specifically calls out retail investors (i.e. WSB). I read it the opposite way, but I can see how it could be interpreted as a warning to both.

It boils down where and who did the manipulation?

140% shorts, including naked shorts from Melvin?

RH stopping buys but allowing sells?

Conclusive proof that Citidel put their finger on the scales to force RH's actions?

WSB's members constantly chanting hold/diamond hands/ride to the moon?

There's a lot at play, and further examination will make for a good post mortem...

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#49
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could be? It's an open, publicly-documented market manipulation event. How can there be any question about it? You might decide that this kind of manipulation is OK due to it's stated goals, but that doesn't make it not manipulation.

I can't find any documentation that a short squeeze is illegal. Can you?

It's in the SEC rules.

"Although some short squeezes may occur naturally in the market, a scheme to manipulate the price or availability of stock in order to cause a short squeeze is illegal."

From https://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/regsho.htm.

It's an open question whether this case is more of a natural occurrence or "a scheme to manipulate", given that it's all randos who found a Schelling point and are now hyping each other up. I think it's fair to say it's unprecedented.

Re: Statement of SEC Regarding Recent Market Volatility

#50
post #32

There's been some speculation that what WSB are doing could be market manipulation or otherwise illegal. The fact that this statement only mention retail investors in the context of protecting them makes me suspect that the SEC's not going for it.

Could be? It's an open, publicly-documented market manipulation event. How can there be any question about it? You might decide that this kind of manipulation is OK due to it's stated goals, but that doesn't make it not manipulation.

Matt Levine did a pretty good job explaining why it probably doesn't fit the traditional definition of market manipulation in his newsletter on Tuesday[1], see the second section titled "But is it securities fraud?"

[1]https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-01-26/will-w...

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