Quote from patchie:
Isn't this about the Uptick rule? Would reinstating the uptick rule somehow be a major impediment on short selling? it is not like they banned short selling all together or anything.
BTW...have any of you ever wondered whether there were some rogue short sellers who abused the privilege and that is why these changes are being considered?
I find it quite amusing that to short sellers CEO's are all bad, long investors are all morons that can't determine rational price discovery (only short sellers can), and pump and dump is the only mechanics of stock manipulation. what bubble world do you guys live in. THERE ARE CROOKS amongst you.
There were regulations (SarBox for example) targeting corrupt CEO's and there have been regulations created to prevent pump and dumps, why the crying when there are regulations to reel in bad short sellers?
The concept of "bad short sellers" etc. is totally absurd. In the first place, every short must be bought back, which creates buying pressure. In the second place, all stocks have a fundamental value based on the business prospects of the issuing entity. The stock market is not just a casino, and it's a fantasy that aggressive short sellers can "manipulate" stock prices below fair value, en masse, for more than a few hours or a day.
Can you do it temporarily or on individual issues? Sure. But then that's a great buying opportunity for speculators and fundamental/value investors, and the shorts will get squeezed.
Fact is, I suspect a new uptick rule would just create arb-worthy inefficiencies that can be exploited by hedge funds, IBanks, market maker firms, etc. The profits realized from this activity come from Average Joe's 401(k), and we'll have the government to thank.