I’d suggest a broker is doing this under instructions from a large buyer wanting to accumulate stock at the lowest possible price. Even if this is NOT legal, the regulators are not going to do anything about it. They accept algorithm trading bots for what at they are, how they do it and the reasons behind it. Some limp knuckle dragging regulator might even suggest they are ‘market makers’. - FFS,GMAB! (Hint - the 2nd “F” would get me moderated)
They have been selling their own stock in very small quantities to entice others into selling their larger chunks. As always, this only works as long as there is a genuine seller who wants to quit stock for whatever reason……….. and those reasons can be many and varied and have nothing to do the company fundamentals or technical trading signals.
When a large buyer like this is capping the share price for their own ultimate gain, I am not overly concerned. They are eventually going to sit pat and let the price rise from ‘normal’ market demand. If not, they will manipulate the price up, bringing on another possible bout of selling pressure where they will start their shorting games. As with all these games, they eventually come to an end. Genuine market pressures will dictate price direction – whether up or down.
When SAS eventually blasts northward, these accumulators may well stay pat for the ride up rather than run the risk of getting burnt in a short position. Either way, as a long term holder, I am not fussed………….. I know what the eventual outcome will be………. VERY good!
As a day or short term trader, it simply provides another set of skills to be acquired to make some dollars. Probably best to simply know the warning signs then stay and trade as best you might or simply exit.
If any of you think you will get any meaningful answer from any regulator in relation to this trading scheme – forget it! Unless they can ping and individual for insider trading or a company for blatant rule breaking, they are not interested. This algo’ high frequency trading methodology has become way too sophisticated and entrenched in all global commodities and share markets. As time goes on they just get quicker and smarter - fleecing more unaware or ill-prepared investors.
Either learn to live and profit from it or cash-in, leave the casino and try to improve your golf handicap!Not much of an alternative but for some here, it might well be a sound option. As a silver futures trader, batting against the world's greatest manipulators of all-time, JPM, I know how some of you feel! It took me a long time and a lot of money to get my head around it!
For the longer term holders and those of you who now "git it", sit tight and don't get put-off by short term price anomalies.