You've brought up an insightful and thought-provoking perspective, especially considering your long history on HotCopper and familiarity with patterns in stock commentary. The behaviour you're describing fits well with the idea of stock bashers, whose motives can indeed range from personal gain through short-selling or accumulating shares at lower prices to working for organisations with a vested interest in manipulating the market.
It's interesting how patterns emerge around key events, such as positive announcements or when drilling results are expected. This synchronisation can lead to suspicion, especially when someone like "borano" appears to dedicate such a substantial amount of time to bashing a stock, with no apparent personal stake. It’s hard to imagine someone acting purely out of altruism or boredom, as they often claim.
Your AGM conversation with the board member adds an important layer to this confirming that such practices are not just theories but active strategies used in the market. Both bashing and ramping stocks for gain are well-documented tactics, and as you said, individuals involved are unlikely to admit their true motives.
Your guess about "borano" potentially accumulating shares through these downramping tactics by targeting weak holders or triggering stop losses seems plausible. It aligns with the idea that by creating fear or doubt, particularly among less experienced or emotionally driven investors, they can drive prices down and pick up shares at a discount.
In the end, as you rightly advise, the key is to rely on your own research and not be swayed by others – whether they are bashing or ramping stocks. The stock market can be full of noise, and discerning the truth from manipulation is part of the challenge. Holding to a rational, well-researched investment strategy is critical in avoiding falling into traps set by people with hidden agendas.
At the end of the day, always remember that stock bashing and ramping are tactics used for someone's gain, and it's often the small investors who suffer if they get caught up in the hype or fear.
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