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Technology Stocks : Network Associates (NET) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Chuzzlewit who wrote (4459)	3/22/1999 4:33:00 PM
From: TimeToMakeTheInvs	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6021

Hi Chuzzle, As a conspiracist (sp?) let me throw one scenario out. I read some variation of this in either Cramer's column or the Wall Street Journal. Say I work at a large trading firm (take your pick). I direct, recommend, or whatever an analyst at the firm to raise the rating on a stock. I then short the stock. Following this, I sell that stock heavily with the idea of taking out stops so as to reach some level advantageous to my firm vis a vis its options positions. Our firm would then cover the short. Whether a "market maker" retains such a large inventory of a stock enabling it to both short (ie borrow shares) a stock and sell heavily to make a percentage difference in the price is a good question. Perhaps some think "collusion" between firms takes place even if only on minimal level so enough selling takes place. A gentleman named Ben Antiniutus (sp? sorry Ben), who as you know is kind enough to post on these threads, has an interesting take on options settlements and stock price movement. He determines a "Maximun Pain Point" whereby most options expire worthless (?, sorry if I have mistated this). Anyway, just thought I would throw this out for discussion. As I stated at the beginning, I am a conspiracy believer even though I cannot prove it <g> (kind of like Moulder and Sculley) - just too many coincidences for me. Others might say it makes no difference one way or the other as long as you understand these behaviors are part of the market. Good luck everybody, hope I have not bored you to death. tim