hedge funds manipulate stock in secret, page-87

Hi Alf2
I suspect that some where in the middle lays the truth.
The hedge funs have taken advantage of a skitish market that is for certain, but as redback is saying "if the stock was trading at good value then it would be supported with walls of bargin hunters.
Look at Iron ore stocks for example, you don't see the hedge funds shorting them do you ;-)

Stocks like Centro are exposed to deflating U.S. property markets, and many other stocks are feeling the effects as well.
The Hedge funds have identified these conditions and are playing by the rules, as painfull and unfair as that may seem.

Personally, I see it as an opportunity to buy oversold stocks, that are unfairly sold down.
Obviously the best defense is to follow the trend as Redbacka has explained, but some times it's hard to see the forrest for the trees.