In early 2021, the financial world witnessed an unprecedented event—the explosive rise of GameStop stock (GME) driven by retail investors rallying under the banner of “meme stocks.”
This movement was largely fueled by influential figures like Roaring Kitty (Keith Gill), who inspired thousands to challenge the status quo.
However, the moment this movement gained traction, Wall Street’s manipulative practices changed course, leading to unjust trading halts that have left many retail investors feeling cheated.
On January 28, 2021, as GME stock soared to an all-time high of $483, trading was abruptly halted by major brokerage firms, including Robinhood.
This decision came right after Roaring Kitty tweeted about the stock, igniting a frenzy among retail investors.
The halt was framed as a measure to protect investors, yet it effectively froze the ability of retail traders to capitalize on their investments while allowing institutional investors, who often have more significant resources and influence, to navigate the volatility unscathed.
According to a report from the House Financial Services Committee, retail investors accounted for approximately 25% of the trading volume in GME at its peak.
Yet, when the trading halts occurred, retail investors were left in the dark, unable to sell or buy shares.
Meanwhile, hedge funds—who had heavily shorted GME—were not subjected to the same restrictions.
Data from the same report revealed that by the end of January 2021, hedge funds had lost an estimated $6.8 billion due to their short positions in GME.
This staggering figure reflects the extent to which Wall Street was caught off guard by the retail uprising.
Instead of allowing the market to self-correct, the halts served to protect institutional interests at the expense of retail investors.
Ex-Citadel data scientist Patrick McConlogue said in an interview that some hedge funds were able to make back billions in losses during the halt.
Recently, GameStop shares rose to above $30 after Roaring Kitty published a cryptic post on X.
GameStop shares were halted after surging to $28, only a 5% increase at the time.
Today, GME stock is trading at $26.93.
What’s particularly troubling is that while trading was halted on the upside, there is no equivalent mechanism to protect investors from the downside.
When stocks plummet, retail investors often face the brunt of the losses without any intervention from the powers that be.
This one-sided approach to market regulation highlights a systemic bias favoring institutional investors, leaving retail traders vulnerable to extreme volatility.
The events surrounding GameStop are not isolated.
They exemplify a broader trend of manipulation by Wall Street.
The practice of “short selling” has long been criticized for its potential to drive down stock prices artificially.
In the case of GameStop, over 140% of its float was shorted during the ‘meme stock frenzy’, which is a clear indication of how deeply entrenched certain hedge funds were in their bearish bets.
When retail investors banded together to buy up shares, they disrupted this manipulation, leading to a short squeeze that sent prices soaring.
However, instead of letting the market dictate the outcome, several brokerage firms, including Robinhood, intervened, effectively siding with Wall Street interests.
This manipulation raises critical questions about the fairness and integrity of the financial system.
How can retail investors trust a market that appears rigged against them?
As retail investors, we must unite to expose these injustices and advocate for a more equitable financial system.
It’s essential to call for greater transparency in trading practices, stricter regulations on short selling, and an end to trading halts that disproportionately affect retail investors.
We must demand that regulators hold brokerage firms accountable for their actions during the GameStop saga, and for the most recent events.
The financial landscape should not be a battleground where retail investors are left as collateral damage in the war between hedge funds and their short positions.
By raising awareness and advocating for change, we can create a fairer market that serves all investors, not just the wealthy few.
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