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Just the usual games, 3Suns. Numerous shorting attacks going on at the moment, right across the ASX (eg LYC, CDU, etc)

Whether they target stocks that they perceive to have an element of weakness, or where they suspect that holders can be eased out of the stocks via stoplosses being triggered, or if they think that there is a lot of margin loan stocks being held, etc - I don't know.

The problem is that using algorithmic trading bots and HFT, they can make whatever direction they want to move a stock become a self-fulfilling prophecy. As long as the stock is liquid enough - for example PDN and the others I mentioned as examples. Also, they tend to be stocks outside the core stocks held by most funds, as weakness in the stock prices would see those funds snaffling up the stocks, and make shorting more risky. So they are stocks that are liquid, not cheap penny stocks, and stocks just outside the "mainstream" as a general rule.

Shorting, bots, and HFT are blights on the proper operation of a stock market, IMHO, and should be banned - although they won't be. Those procedures, along with derivatives such as futures, CFDs, etc are all just contrived bits of paper that are NOT involved with investing - they are designed purely and simply to make the quants and smart operators who trade them large profits.

We really need to get back to an orderly stock market in the true meaning of the term - a place where those who want to invest can buy shares in a company, and those who think the price may be heading down can sell. But selling stocks that you hold is not the same as shorting. I don't have any problem with people selling - just with short selling.

But I've had more than my fair share of rants about shorting and bot trading over the last couple of years - I'd better keep quiet as people may somehow get the impression that I have become cynical about the markets...!!