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Technology Stocks : K-Tel (KTEL) Have the cheesy '70s records come to an end? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: RealMuLan who wrote (1453)5/3/1998 7:41:00 PM
From: Mark3000  Respond to of 3203
 
KTEL is the number on query for short interest:

viwes.com



To: RealMuLan who wrote (1453)5/3/1998 8:44:00 PM
From: RealMuLan  Respond to of 3203
 
This is from MB Trading thread about the truth of covering KTEL shorts:

To: +jawd (106 )
From: +Ross
Sunday, May 3 1998 8:03PM ET
Reply # of 108

I can not help but notice the rumor mill had been working overtime re:MBTraders
covering KTEL shorts. Though MB Trading has always taken a position of allowing our
clients and prospects to decide their comfort level of our service and posting
unencombured, We believe that some facts should be disclosed re:KTEL from MB
Trading.

First MB Trading clears through Southwest, which at the time of the KTEL run up did
have some stock available for shorting. As the stock increased in value those holders of
KTEL long (yes actual long term investors) sold their shares. The shares, which were
held in street name and are borrowed for shorting, dried up. The float of KTEL being
what it was caused what many would believe to be a dramatic short squeeze. The
KTEL float is and was public information.
This is a risk of short selling any stock! Kramer of "The Street.com" has an excellent
description of a short sell as well as the unfortunate risk and pain of a "buy-in". With
regards to MB Trading forcing covers. I personally made the phone calls. I made 4
calls! When on the 3rd day of the KTEL ramp up (settlement date) we called our
clients (per SW's demand)who were still short, all 6,000 shares I may add, and
informed them of the situation. With regards to our forcing to cover rumor... all MBT
clients receive a "Hard to borrow list" as well as instructions that any shorted stock must
be verified before the close such that a firm borrow is in place in the event of a fiasco
(upside run), ala KTEL, MARG, etc...

MB Trading strives to give the utmost in customer support and service. Our procedures
are such that our clients are fully advised of possible trading pitfalls before they become
disastrous (which had we not had those clients cover, they would have been in) We
strive daily to be the best, and thus far our clients have agreed. Lastly consider that
Southwest Securities is a very large clearing firm. We are not Sw's only client. SW has
thousands of clients and KTEL was not only shorted by our internet community but by
traders all over the world both with accounts at SW and not. This is simply the
mechanics of shorting. The stock IS NOT YOURS! This is and will always be the risk
of trading stock YOU do not own nor is available for borrowing.

Our hope is that the truth regarding KTEL and MB Trading spreads as fast as the
inaccurate rumor which began this.

Thank you for the opprotunity.

Ross Ditlove
MB Trading
888-790-4800



To: RealMuLan who wrote (1453)5/3/1998 8:59:00 PM
From: RealMuLan  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 3203
 
For those who short KTEL through Datek: No need to be panic. Of course, have to prepare some cash in case this dog will go further up before it goes down. According to Datek: KTEL is still a very popular stock and a lot of people bought it long, so they don't see a call back for the shorts right now. In case it does, there will be no universal call back, only draw a lottery by name or account #.

So please do not believe all those rumor (MB Trading only called to 4 people's shorts). I think maybe this is just another conspiracy to urge shorts to cover to run up the stock price. Everything surrounds KTEL smells so fishy.



To: RealMuLan who wrote (1453)5/3/1998 10:17:00 PM
From: McNabb Brothers  Respond to of 3203
 
Yiwu Zhang,

Are you still short KTEL?

Hank



To: RealMuLan who wrote (1453)5/3/1998 11:58:00 PM
From: Rob S.  Respond to of 3203
 
I wouldn't worry about it. Mr Riley would find it extremely difficult to win a libel action. In the future you should end remarks that might be taken as inflamatory with a statement such as IMHO, "thats what I think" or some such. Riley would have a heck of a time (laughed at by the judge) bringing suit against you for what you express as a simple opinion.