Quote from ko_:
On May, 6 I've bought 1000 shares of PWV for $0.20 and sold them for $12. My profit was almost $12k. As you know next day such positions was canceled. So instead of profit I had short position for $12. I had to cover it for $17. My balance is__ $ -5K._
Is there anybody who lost money by this way?
What do you think about suing?
Yes. This guy was definitely robbed. The HFT programs messed up and smashed the market to ridiculous levels, the OP was smart and lucky enough to purchase the bargains which these programs had created.
But guess what, the institutions cry foul and want their stock back because it was a mistake. No human being would have sold their PWV at $0.20.
The institutions must understand that this is the price they pay for having programs make all their trading decisions. However, since the SEC is in the pocket of these institutions, they proceed to rob "Peter" to pay "Paul." The little guy suffers again.