hedge funds manipulate stock in secret, page-66

Sorry redbacka, but you don't get it. A lot of what you say is true, but there are reasons for companies to perform continuous disclosure - the market is about information not just making money. Any information hidden from investors is by definition fraud.

By disclosing info, coy's allow investors to make reasoned decisions. If key information is not disclosed, investors are unable to make informed decisions, therefore a (in fact all) stocks will suffer, i.e. their sp would fall with the "uncertainty" of information.

The market is the market Ok, not disputing that (although I think it is always irrational in the short term), however by hiding transactions or manipulating outcomes with mis-information, investors cannot make rational decisions. And it is in this area that the ASX and other SM's around the world are required to enforce laws that provide for continuous disclosure and therefore avoid "in the know" trading.

Break these fundamental rules and the outcome is chaos.