This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

TWTR Stock Pumps & Dumps After Fake 'Bloomberg' Report

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Twitter shares surged this morning as traders rapidly spread a report from "Bloomberg" that "Twitter Attracts Suitors." However, in Avon-esque manner, the story is completely fake, via a website whose doman 'bloomberg.market' was created just 4 days ago. Prices then fell back. This is what the 'markets' have come to now...

 

The fake site...from Bloomberg.market domain with a mispelling of the former CEO's name (here)

 

The reaction: algos loved it - spiked stocks... then someone read the report...

 

Why would anyone do this? Well someone loaded up in size on very short-dated TWTR Calls yesterday...

 

So to be clear: with the stock trading around $35, someone bought around 400 lots (400,000 shares worth) of $37 strike calls that expire in 3 days (at a cost between 21c and 30c) which were all dumped into the ramp today at between $1 and $2)!

*  *  *

*  *  *

To be sure, a 5 second whois check of http://bloomberg.business reveals that the website was created 4 days ago...

The name server is dns1.namecheaphosting.com - clearly Mike Bloomberg would never stoop so low...

But algos always react to headlines first, ask questions later.

In any case, if you got stopped out on your TWTR short due to the market spike confirming the Idiot Algo Hypothesis, please complain to the Modern Markets Initiative.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:02 | 6311107 aliki
aliki's picture

win 1 for the humans (but give the machines time ... they will continue to learn, adjust)

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:28 | 6311204 LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

I love watching anyone damn stupid enough to be in these so-called markets getting their balls cut off and their head handed to them.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:29 | 6311210 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

We fucked with some "algo-bot" folks...

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:03 | 6311110 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Efficient "markets" at work.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:06 | 6311126 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

The smart people can't be fooled, just ask'em......

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:04 | 6311114 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Fraud and lies drive US markets - so why is anyone surprised?

Forward - to more fraud.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:03 | 6311115 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

NoDebt staggers over to his friends at the bar.....  

"You see that chick over there.  She's ready.  I'm totally gonna nail her."

"Um, NoDebt, that's a dude."

"No WAY!"

"Yes way.  That's a dude."

"Oh, fuck."

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:09 | 6311134 The_Small_Lebowski
The_Small_Lebowski's picture

We Twattered some folks...

 

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:12 | 6311151 aliki
aliki's picture

don't show the machines this headline:

Atlanta Fed's GDP Now forecast should be downgraded

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:14 | 6311155 Kristian
Kristian's picture

Options ex gameplay..

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:16 | 6311166 HopefulCynical
HopefulCynical's picture

There was a time when someone would've gone to jail for a stunt like this. These days, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:29 | 6311208 lordylord
lordylord's picture

You only go to jail if you crash the price.  You get a complimentary Fed tote bag when you spoof it higher. 

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 13:28 | 6311487 HopefulCynical
HopefulCynical's picture

Well, that's true.

However, I was referring specifically to the buying of out of the money calls, and dumping them for a profit into a spike caused by a news story you faked.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:18 | 6311174 22winmag
22winmag's picture

So easy, a 15 year old could do it.

 

Actually, 15 year olds have done it on the regular.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:23 | 6311192 Wannabe_Oracle
Wannabe_Oracle's picture

Part of me yearns to yearns to laugh and shout "hysterical, what a bunch of idiots", then another part of me becomes really sad knowing that this is the future of America...  [SMH]

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:26 | 6311203 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Fake reports for a fake market. Fitting.

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:30 | 6311214 yudd
yudd's picture

remeber that Bengali guy with the 3 series BMW with crazy returns fake MSNBC story in NYC, maybe he was able to borrow a grand reverse repo'ing the title on his 3 - series and then setup this trade

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:40 | 6311219 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

The perp should have named the website 'Boomberg.market'. Give the suckers a little clue.

 

Was once offered a deal on a solid gold Dunhill lighter. Lighter looked and felt 'right'. Only problem was, the lighter was branded 'Downhill'. LoL!

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 12:45 | 6311275 pragmatic hobo
pragmatic hobo's picture

it's options expiration week and looks like some people are getting desperate ...

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 13:03 | 6311365 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

 

'Twitter':

 

That spot between the Twat and the Shitter.    Sorta like the 'taint...

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 13:23 | 6311460 Amish Hacker
Amish Hacker's picture

I thought 400 calls would control 40,000 shares, not 400,000, no?

Tue, 07/14/2015 - 15:37 | 6312027 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

"someone bought around 400 lots"

When talking stocks a 'lot' is 100 shares. When talking options a lot is one contract (controls 100 shares).

So, yes you are correct. Or the article is using ‘lot’ incorrectly.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!