Tag: GME Stock (Page 2 of 18)

How Do Hedge Funds Manipulate The Stock Market?

February 8, 2023 / Frank Nez

Hedge funds have been manipulating the stock market for decades.

But it wasn’t until now that a community has risen to raise awareness of market injustices.

The shorting of both AMC and GameStop stock have uncovered a number of nefarious strategies used against retail investors.

What is the SEC doing to regulate these financial entities?

We’re here to find out.

Let’s get started!

Overleveraging Borrowed Shares

Hedge funds have an incredible supply of short shares available to borrow.

This advantage has allowed them to manipulate a stock’s share price by initiating short-ladder attacks.

While supply and demand are pushing a stock’s price up, hedge funds short the stock using an insane amount of leverage.

This predatorial strategy has yet to be announced as illegal nor has it been addressed by the SEC.

Off Exchange Trading

Hedge funds and market makers are getting away with being able to trade and swap stock in foreign exchanges where the stock’s price isn’t required to be disclosed.

They’re taking retail orders and, in a way, manipulating the circulating supply by not reporting accurate transactions.

We’ve seen this happen with Barclays.

Stock market manipulation — Barclays CEO, Jes Staley – Hedge fund manipulation

Reports by Finra have been made public detailing multiple fines on Barclays for inaccurate books and records.

Barclays is one of Citadel’s clearing houses.

Off exchange trading where transactions aren’t displayed on the list market such as the NYSE is a massive problem the SEC is still trying to figure out.

Though the SEC is trying to implement the D-Limit order that will allow stocks to trade under IEX, they’re having trouble from hedge funds and market makers.

Citadel has sued the SEC on this matter, we have yet to receive a public update on the case.

Naked Shorting

AMC and GameStop have had an incredible amount of FTDs, or failure-to-delivers.

These are orders that have not been executed in options, and are usually a result of a ‘short party’ not owning or not having all of the underlying asset.

This has led retail investors to the educated assessment that synthetic shares are floating in the market; shares known as naked shares used to short a stock.

According to Investopedia, “Despite being made illegal after the 2008–09 financial crisis, naked shorting continues to happen because of loopholes in rules and discrepancies between paper and electronic trading systems.”

Naked shorting has gone mainstream with CNBC’s Melissa Lee and Fox Business’s Charles Payne bringing light to this predatorial practice in the market.

Retail investors must use their voice to address these issues to the SEC.

The Use of Mainstream Media Outlets

According to The Fool, you should invest in this or that “instead”.

We’ve seen the headlines countless times.

The Motley Fool is a source that provides its subscribers with hand-picked stocks with potential gains.

With tremendous respect, stick to what you do.

The integrity of this company is to help investors pick winning stocks, not to divert them from a stock due to its potential upside that can cause hedge fund partners to lose billions of dollars.

And that’s exactly what happened.

No matter how many times mainstream media outlets tried to divert retail investors from buying AMC stock, it cost hedge funds a lot of money all year.

And at the same time, a lot of retail investors have a lot of unrealized gains.

This ladies and gentlemen is how the media has tried to manipulate the performance of a stock.

This influence can sway a new retail investor from adding to the surging volume of shares being purchased in the market.

To the new retail investor – make your financial decisions based on your own due diligence.

Not on what media sources get paid to write about.

Yahoo Finance & InvestorPlace

Platforms such as Yahoo Finance & InvestorPlace have also had their fair share of negative headlines to try and divert the public from skyrocketing AMC to the moon.

With InvestorPlace even throwing a jab at GME investors saying, “If You’ve Made Money On GameStop, You’re Not An Investing Genius”.

Perhaps not, but I’m pretty certain these investors are wealthier than the person who came up with that punchline.

These media sources have been discouraging new retail investors from investing in AMC since the beginning of the year although the stock is up year-to-date!

Manipulation In the Stock Market

robinhood stock market manipulation — Robing Hood? Stock market manipulation

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Robinhood scandal.

This is another form of manipulation in the stock market caused by the halt of buying power.

Robinhood prevented its users from buying stocks such as AMC and GME (GameStop) during GME’s bull run.

Although restrictions aren’t as tight anymore, we’re beginning to see trusted and beloved companies get exposed as hedge funds worst nightmares become a reality.

Today we’re seeing more people learn about how the stock market moves.

If more of the public is to understand how hedge funds pose a risk to our economy and businesses, we must expose these financial institutions for who they really are.

Read: Why new retail investors investing in AMC should avoid Robinhood

A House of Cards, r/superstonks (Reddit Post)

A Redditor just posted an insane amount of DD on Reddit.

This long form post discusses the transition from paper filled orders in the stock market to the use of computers going tracing back to the mid 80s.

The post reveals the beginning of issuing naked shares.

We’re also learning that a lot of transaction are being held by the actual institutions that are shorting these stocks.

Robinhood routes more than half of it’s customers to Citadel.

This information has now been disclosed via the Washington Post.

You can read the full Reddit post here.

Trey’s Trades does a quick breakdown on this DD as well.

The video is embedded for your viewing pleasure.

It costs retail investors nothing to hold, but it costs shorts and hedge funds money every day.

It’s only a matter of time before a squeeze occurs, no matter how manipulated the stock market gets.

Franknez.com fights The Fool, Yahoo Finance, and InvestorPlace

Franknez.com is fighting for the community against malpractice from all news media shunning AMC, GameStop, and other retail favorites.

This platform will serve as a positive media outlet for the community and only spread factual documentation, and news related cited-sources.

I will not encourage retail investors to take a position in any stock.

However, I will outline the facts and evidence to help you make your own personal financial decision.

How can retail investors bring awareness to the community?

Retail investors can expose false information on social media to shine light on manipulation tactics driven by hedge fund partners.

Sharing factual and positive articles relating to the performance or analytics of a particular stock is another way the investing community can stay united.

Franknez.com is a platform for the community.

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Franknez.com is the media blog that keeps retail investors informed.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn for daily posts.

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Goldman Says Bigger Short Squeezes Coming Since Meme Stock Frenzy

February 6, 2023 / Frank Nez

Goldman Sachs Short Squeeze — Market News Today: Goldman Sachs talks short squeezes in 2023.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is reporting hedge funds betting against stocks globally abandoned those short positions last week at the fastest pace since 2015, surpassing the speed of exits during the ‘meme stock’ frenzy in 2021.

The latest short squeeze, implying that stock prices rose so much that bearish bets become too expensive to hold, saw hedge funds caught out by a sharp rally in equities on Feb. 2 after the U.S. Federal Reserve slowed the pace of interest rate hikes and markets anticipated that rates would peak soon, per Reuters.

According to the Goldman note, the speed at which hedge funds exited bearish positions surpassed that seen in January 2021 when retail traders managed to squeeze short sellers out of stocks such as videogame retailer Gamestop (NYSE:GME) and movie theatre operator AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE:AMC).

During the ‘meme stock’ frenzy in 2021, GameStop shares rose to nearly $500 per share, or +1,500% that year.

AMC shares rose from $2 early that year to an all-time high of $72 per share, more than +3,000%.

Today, both AMC and GameStop remain heavily shorted with AMC Entertainment having a higher-than-ever cost to borrow fee.

Experts say hedge funds remain bearish

Despite the massive short covering, hedge fund managers do not seem to be more upbeat about markets.

“Positioning isn’t ‘high’ and it doesn’t seem like many investors are bullish, per se,” JPMorgan’s Positioning Intelligence said in a note reviewed by Reuters, adding it has also seen hedge funds adding some shorts in highly shorted stocks.

It seems institutional investors are not entirely switching sides yet but are continuing to add to their short positions on already heavily shorted stocks.

Still, short interest in both AMC and GameStop has both risen and fluctuated, signaling few shorts closing.

AMC Entertainment stock is up more than +60% this year-to-date, GME stock more than +34%.

The movie theatre chain has a high short interest of 22.84% with an extremely high cost to borrow of 239.91%.

Hedge funds will need to determine whether it’s worth paying millions of dollars per month in fees just to short AMC stock.

A short squeeze may be triggered at any moment as this weight gets too heavy.

Industrials and Information Technology Companies

The largest short positions held by hedge funds were in industrials and information technology companies, the Goldman note said.

It added that hedge funds also exited many long positions in Asian developing markets and Chinese equities last week.

Resurgent risk appetite among some investors has also fueled rallies in the shares of so-called meme stocks since the start of this year, though many analysts are skeptical the recent moves will last, said Reuters.

But I disagree.

AMC Entertainment may have bottomed out as we see the stock price bounce and retest major levels of support.

The company’s high short interest and cost to borrow has grown substantially over the past two years.

Major price action may trigger short sellers to close their positions, initiating a chain reaction that will lead to a short squeeze.

The short thesis for AMC Entertainment is getting weaker as new developments surface in the entertainment industry.

Goldman Sachs is right, massive short squeezes are coming.

And the retail investor is about to put Wall Street upside down again, just like they did during the ‘meme stock’ frenzy of 2021.

Market News Published Daily

Market News Today - Goldman Sachs talks short squeezes in 2023. — Market News Today – Goldman Sachs talks short squeezes in 2023.

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Franknez.com is the media blog that keeps retail investors informed.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn for daily posts.

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When Do Shorts Have to Close Their Positions in AMC?

February 2, 2023 / Frank Nez

When will shorts close their short positions in AMC? When will shorts cover AMC? — When will shorts close their positions in AMC? When will shorts cover AMC?

Every retail investor holding a position in AMC wants to know, when will shorts close their positions?

And I don’t blame you.

This one is a little tricky.

See, it’s like saying, “when will retail investors sell their positions?”

Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog that fights for you, the retail investor. Today I want to discuss shorts closing.

Let’s get started!

Retail investors have been waiting patiently for AMC Entertainment stock to rip.

You’ve been holding through the ups and downs and even buying the dips.

And although we did see AMC’s share price surge in 2021, the short sellers are still here in 2023.

So, why aren’t shorts closing their positions yet?

What do retail investors need to do to squeeze hedge funds out of their money?

Let’s discuss it.

Are shorts obligated to close their positions?

When do shorts have to close their positions in AMC?

Let’s start with the fundamental question.

Are shorts obligated to close their positions?

Now, there are currently no rules regarding how long a short can hold before closing out their position.

However, lenders do have the right to demand the seller closes their position with minimal notice.

This is rare and only occurs if the the seller isn’t paying the interest fee, or the interest fee is ridiculously high.

“A short position may be maintained as long as the investor is able to honor the margin requirements and pay the required interest and the broker lending the shares allows them to be borrowed.” – Investopedia

When an interest fee is extremely high, it makes a stock difficult to borrow which obligates the short seller to close their positions.

Short sellers are burning big money to keep these positions open in 2023 though.

You’ll want to keep an eye on this interest as it will determine just how much shorts are bleeding.

I update AMC’s short interest data (and others) here daily.

Why does the “Cost to Borrow” fee matter?

The cost to borrow fee is an interest that short sellers must pay for borrowing AMC shares to short the company stock.

These fees are currently at an all-time high.

Short sellers will hold in hopes to drive AMC’s share price right back down to the floor.

However, AMC is trending upwards now and has absolutely no intention of going back down.

Analysts data and AI predictions all point towards a high possibility of a short squeeze.

Even Fintel’s short squeeze score has been as high as 80-90% in recent weeks.

This short borrow fee is going to continue to go up as AMC stock becomes harder to borrow.

For short sellers, a low short borrow fee is in their favor.

Hedge funds much rather pay the fee and stubbornly continue to hold their positions against retail investors.

But, if the short borrow fee is high enough to hurt the borrower, they will be more inclined to close their positions before losing an excruciating amount of money.

Just In: Short Sellers Are Down $81 Billion This Year

How can retail investors help drive the short borrow fee up?

Retail investors have helped drive the short borrow fee up simply by holding their positions.

When AMC squeezes, not every short will close their positions immediately.

This means retail investors won’t ever be able to time the high.

There will be short sellers who will continue to short even as share prices rise.

If we begin to see AMC’s price action rise monumentally, it is important to have a plan on how to take profits.

Just like a day trade, investors may be profitable for some time until they see gains turn into losses, which usually occurs due to greed in the markets.

This is what you want to avoid.

Important advisory: I am not a licensed financial advisory. I simply have a passion for finance and writing.

What happens when a short close their position?

A short position will be profitable if it is closed at a lower price than the initial transaction; it is at a loss if it is closed at a higher price.

In AMC’s case, shorts who drove began to short around $5 but are still holding to-date are at a loss.

AMC is currently trading around $6.08 per share as of 2/2.

When there’s a ton of shorts closing (in a particular stock), it will result in a short squeeze.

What is a short squeeze?

A short squeeze occurs when a stock spikes in price action due to an increase of short-sellers closing out their positions.

We’ve seen a short squeeze happen with both GameStop and Volkswagen. GME topped almost $500 while Volkswagen spiked shy below $1,000 back in 2008.

Some short sellers closed in June of 2021 when AMC shares rose to $72 per share as well.

AMC’s price skyrockets to more than +3,000% that year!

Short squeezes are massively profitable for retail investors.

These phenomena are how people are able to accumulate wealth in such little time.

Read: 5 Big Signs Pointing to An AMC Short Squeeze

So, when will AMC shorts close?

When do shorts have to close their position? — When will shorts close their short positions in AMC? When will shorts cover AMC?

Instead of exiting, short sellers have been holding.

Just as retail investors have high conviction on massive price action, hedge funds still have conviction on shorting the company to delist it.

But AMC Entertainment isn’t going bankrupt and AMC shareholders aren’t leaving.

AMC said bankruptcy was no longer on the table years ago and some Wall Street analysts have said the industry is on a solid path to resurgence, via Hollywood Reporter.

In fact, the short thesis is beginning to change with many incredible developments happening in the movie theatre industry.

AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) is up more than 54% this year-to-date and it looks like the stock has bottomed out.

As we continue to see a high utilization and the short borrow fee increase, we can only expect shorts may be incentivized to close sooner than later.

Will AMC’s price action continue to go up?

AMC stock has always had high demand from shareholders.

While many of these retail activists continue to hold losses from June’s drop, it’s possible this changes – granted that short sellers close out their positions this year.

Short sellers will have the option to hold their loses on paper for months to come (with fees) or close their position at the current share prices.

Short selling is a risky business and bulls have sent a message – “we’re not leaving”.

With new titles coming to AMC movie theaters as well as new developments, we’re only going to continue to see a surge in price action due to an increase in the company’s fundamental growth.

Even if shorts continue to hold, lenders will eventually run up the interest rate again, forcing them to throw in the towel.

Leave a comment below and let the community know what a short squeeze would mean for you.

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Market News Today - When do shorts have to close their positions in AMC? — Market News Today – When do shorts have to close their positions in AMC?

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Top 5 Stocks Outperforming the Market Already This Year

February 2, 2023 / Frank Nez

Stock Market 2023: Top stocks outperforming the SPY.

The SPY is currently up +9.44% entering the second month of the year.

Shares of the S&P 500 index are trading at $416.78 at the time of this publication.

Last year, the index came down more than -10% bringing many companies down -50% to more than -80% on the year.

Today, stocks seem to be doing much better than experts and analysts anticipated.

Short sellers are currently down $81 billion this year-to-date.

Despite coming from a bear market, and all signs signaling an upcoming recession, early investors in some stocks are already killing it.

Here are 5 stocks currently outperforming the market already this year.

Biora Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BIOR) +73.62%
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) +54.71%
AMC Preferred Equity (NYSE:APE) +135.83%
Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ:PTON) +109.11%
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) +74.16%

#1. Biora Therapeutics (BIOR) Stock

Biora Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BIOR), formerly known as Progenity (PROG) stock was up more than +182% in the first week of the new year.

Today, BIOR stock is up more than +73% this year.

The stock surged from $2 per share and peaked around $7.36 last in only the second week of the new year.

BIOR is extremely shorted, we’re talking about the company being one of the most shorted stocks in the market at the moment.

Ortex is reporting the company to have a whopping 243.95% short interest.

Why did BIOR stock surge so much this year already?

Biora Therapeutics is on track to move into clinic with its lead targeted therapeutics program.

If approved, it will be massive for the company and for shareholders alike.

#2. AMC Entertainment (AMC) Stock

AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) stock continues to be one of the biggest ‘meme stocks’ even after its massive debut in 2021 when shares rose from $2.50 to $72 later that year.

The stock, at the publication of this article, is trading at $6.08, the same share price it was two years ago before gaining serious traction.

AMC Entertainment continues to improve its fundamentals and remains the #1 leader in the movie theatre industry.

While online streaming has grown to become quite popular, especially during the pandemic, experts are beginning to weigh in on AMC’s side in 2023.

CNBC stated, “Netflix has backtracked on its previous policies, including by introducing an ad-supported subscription option, leading many to wonder whether the company should rethink its resistance to the traditional Hollywood movie release model as it looks for new ways to grow revenue.“

Even Amazon associates who asked not to be identified, per Bloomberg News, are stating the company plans to invest $1 billion per year in the movie theatre industry.

The world’s largest online retailer aims to make between 12 and 15 movies annually that will get a theatrical release.

“While a $1 billion annual investment for film development is on the lower end of what major Hollywood studios spend each year, it’s a positive sign for the movie theater business, which has struggled in the wake of the pandemic”, said CNBC.

#3. AMC Preferred Equity (APE)

AMC Preferred Equity (NYSE:APE) is currently up +135.83% this year-to-date.

The equity made its debut in August of 2022 as a dividend for AMC shareholders.

AMC Entertainment has been able to capitalize on the equity by using funds to pay off debt and raise capital for the company.

Shares have plummeted since its inception; however, we’re seeing APE shares outperform the market too.

Plans to merge APE shares with AMC common stock will soon be up for shareholders to vote on.

Also Read: AMC Warns Short Sellers of Possible APE Short Squeeze

#4. Peloton (PTON) Stock

Peloton Interactive, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTON) is an American exercise equipment and media company based in New York City.

The company’s products are stationary bicycles, treadmills, indoor rowers equipped with Internet-connected touch screens that stream live and on-demand fitness classes through a subscription service.

Company shares are up +109.11% year-to-date.

Peloton recently brought Leslie Berland, Twitter’s former marketing head, as its next chief marketing officer, per Bloomberg news reports.

She previously helped lead American Express for 10 years.

Peloton is trying to shift the tides after a rough 2022, when its stock dropped more than 75%.

The company in November posted wider losses than analysts expected for its first fiscal quarter.

Berland said in an announcement that she is “thrilled” to join the company at this “unique moment in its transformation journey.”

#5. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Stock

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) had one of its worst years yet in 2022.

However, the company stock is outperforming the market today already gaining +74.16% in gains this year-to-date.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk sold 22 million shares of the company last year cashing in approximately $3.6 billion earlier in December according to this SEC filing.

After the massive selloff, Elon said during a Twitter space call that he will not sell any Tesla shares for about two years.

Musk said he sees a ‘serious’ recession in 2023 and is preparing for a worst-case scenario.

And although experts are saying a recession is likely to strike the U.S. economy during the first quarter of 2023, the company stock seems to be performing quite well today.

Honorable mentions

#6. Hycroft Mining Holding (HYMC) Stock

Shares of Hycroft Mining (NASDAQ:HYMC) rose 25% earlier this year when the company announced it had discovered more gold and silver than it had anticipated.

Majority of the company is owned by AMC Entertainment.

22% of the company to be exact.

When the movie theatre chain acquired the mining company, headquartered in Nevada, shareholders followed.

Hycroft was able to raise an incredible $195 million in just two weeks after the acquisition.

Today, company shares are up nearly +10.31% year-to-date.

#7. GameStop Corp. (GME) Stock

GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) shares are currently up +31.98% year-to-date.

GME stock continues to be a retail investors favorite despite its popularity coming down since the ‘meme stock’ frenzy of 2021.

Today, shareholders are registering their shares through DRS to prevent short sellers from attacking the company stock.

According to GameStop, approximately 30% of GME’s float is registered with the Direct Registration System (DRS).

This equates to 71.3 million retail shares.

How much of GME’s float is owned by retail investors?

Nearly 70% of the float is owned by individual shareholders according to Vickers Stock Research.

While DRS certainly prevents the company from being shorted, it’s only one piece of the puzzle for a GameStop short squeeze.

Shareholders will need to create massive buying pressure next.

Check out the latest market news for retail investors!

Franknez.com - Business news, Market News, Analysis, + more. — Franknez.com – Business news, Market News, Analysis, + more.

For more stock, business news and updates, join the newsletter to receive weekly market news and notifications straight to your inbox.

Or follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for daily posts.

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You can now read exclusive FrankNez articles for only $1/mo.

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Become part of a private and safe Discord community, just for retail investors.
Get drawn at the end of the year for holiday giveaways.

Gain Access Today!

Overleveraging Borrowed Shares

Off Exchange Trading

Naked Shorting

The Use of Mainstream Media Outlets

Yahoo Finance & InvestorPlace

Manipulation In the Stock Market

A House of Cards, r/superstonks (Reddit Post)

Franknez.com fights The Fool, Yahoo Finance, and InvestorPlace

Market News Published Daily

Recommended For You ✨

Experts say hedge funds remain bearish

Industrials and Information Technology Companies

Market News Published Daily

Recommended For You ✨

Are shorts obligated to close their positions?

Why does the “Cost to Borrow” fee matter?

Just In: Short Sellers Are Down $81 Billion This Year

How can retail investors help drive the short borrow fee up?

What happens when a short close their position?

What is a short squeeze?

Read: 5 Big Signs Pointing to An AMC Short Squeeze

So, when will AMC shorts close?

Will AMC’s price action continue to go up?

Market News Published Daily

#1. Biora Therapeutics (BIOR) Stock

#2. AMC Entertainment (AMC) Stock

Related: 5 Big Signs Pointing to An AMC Short Squeeze

#3. AMC Preferred Equity (APE)

#4. Peloton (PTON) Stock

#5. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) Stock

Honorable mentions

#6. Hycroft Mining Holding (HYMC) Stock

#7. GameStop Corp. (GME) Stock

Check out the latest market news for retail investors!

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