The Impending War Against Short Sellers, page-80

Lots of obvious holes in that analogy, including some of those big players are shorting themselves or in league with others who do so. Also, $100 stocks are one thing, but many big players cant/dont trade in penny explorers, so cant/wont wipe out shorters who do so. The purpose seems to be to manipulate stock prices down to sub reasonable prices for any one of several obvious reasons including potential take-overs, financial hardship, stealthy accumulation, etc.

There is no logic other than devious manipulation or greed in deliberately causing a MC to fall & remain dramatically under fair value for prolonged periods. This price lowering happens to lots of stocks (inc PLS) despite lots of highly reputable brokers placing a much higher share value on them. Either the highly reputable brokers are mislead or lying, or the shorter knows something they don't? And of course, both these parties might not necessarily be mutually exclusive at times? Most of us detest but simply live with this and other unjustifiable and unethical practices open to a privileged few.