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"Desperate" Novice Trader May Be Suicidal If He Didn't Cover: KBIO Short Squeeze Goes "Full Volkswagen"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Our post yesterday about the "devastated" novice E-trader Joe Campbell, who went to bed on Wednesday night with a $18K short position in the biotech pennystock KaleBios, only to wake up with a $106K margin call when overnight insolvent KaleBios announced it would get a last minute rescue by the infamous Martin Shkreli, promptly went viral.

 

And, as was to be expected, many were curious just how Joe - who swore he would never again short low float stocks again - had done in his GoFundMe campaign. The answer - not bad: in the span of 24 hours, with the aid of massive media coverage, he had managed to raise over $5,310, or more than he had hoped.

 

At least one part of Joe's plan worked out. However, the real question is whether he was also successful with the other, far more difficult part of this plight, namely paying off the E-trade margin call. Because, while yesterday the stock of KBIO drifted lower all day to close just above $10, overnight KBIO went 2 for 2, when the company announced it would name Martin Shkreli as its new CEO.

The press release also said that Shkreli and other investors have committed to an equity investment of at least $3 million in KaloBios and additionally to a $10 million equity financing facility, the company said in a statement late Thursday.

In other words, Shkreli's consortium had acquired 70% of the company, and should they decide to pull the borrow, on the odd chance that the short interest had soared to above 30%, KBIO - which until a few days ago - suddenly has the potential to become the next Volkswagen: a company which has more shares short than there is float available to cover them.

As a reminder, this is what Volkswagen was sued for by numerous hedge funds in 2009, who alleged the company management had devised a massive manipulation scheme to destroy shorts, only for the lawsuit to die down eventually without the company being found guilty.

However, the infamous VOW squeeze did lead to the suicide of German billionaire Adolf Merckle who committed suicide on 5 January 2009 by throwing himself in front a train.

Well, a quick look at KBIO stock reveals that while not the +400% juggernaut from yesterday, the stock is up another 80% this morning on the latest news and has led to another short-squeeze bloodbath as countless more "novice" traders get hammered.

 

Which brings us back to Joe Campbell and his now famous margin call: did he liquidate enough other assets to cover the margin call? What about the hundreds of other shorts who piggybacked and shorted at the close yesterday only to wake up with comparable massive margin calls?

And what happens if Shkreli's plan is indeed to rerun the "Volkswagen" scenario and unleash an epic short squeeze that sends the price of the company into the stratosphere, unlinked from any fundamentals, but merely soaring ever higher as desperate shorts pay any price just to get out.

We hope to find out as suddenly this until recently bankrupt company whose price has exploded in the past two days, has become not only a poster child for everything broken and manipulated with the market (think 2014's CYNK one year forward) but has the market following with morbid to find out how the tragicomedy of "Shkreli vs the Shorters" concludes.

 

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Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:32 | 6818060 firstdivision
firstdivision's picture

I highly doubt Shkreli would be found without guilt.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:34 | 6818067 HedgeAccordingly
HedgeAccordingly's picture

too funny.. the market is loose.. lots of morons involved.. but takes two to make a market.. 

 Martin Shkreli & Co. together acquired more than 50% of outstanding shares of Kbio


Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:40 | 6818099 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

loose like a stool after a night of tacos and samosas

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:48 | 6818131 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Jump, you fuckers!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:19 | 6818237 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

Trader May Be Suicidal

Please help stop Global Warming® by eliminating your carbon footprint.

Time for me to go buy a new Ferrari, shriek in horror over the loss that I'm taking as soon as I drive it off the lot, then set up a GoFundMe account to have other people pay for my transportation (which I must use to get to work to feed my family) - or I might kill myself.  A bunch of frick'n morons donating to this guy.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:05 | 6818508 ebear
ebear's picture

You'll need more than 5 beans for a Ferrari.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:33 | 6818613 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

Not when I have a GoFundMe account and a lot of gullible dupes who are happy to pay for me!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:38 | 6818636 Joe Trader
Joe Trader's picture

In the U.S., can you carry capital losses from one year to reduce taxible capital gains in subsequent years?

Do you guys also have capital loss carry-back? Which lets you apply capital losses against capital gains taxes paid in previous years, for a tax refund?

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:53 | 6818698 nink
nink's picture

Spent all my money on hookers and Blow and then borrowed 100K that I lost at the tables.  GOFUNDME

Sat, 11/21/2015 - 00:29 | 6820388 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Look up the instructions for IRS Schedule-D & Schedule-B.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:01 | 6818727 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Buy a bunch of FIAT and RACE that fucking car until it dies.

Mon, 11/23/2015 - 13:16 | 6827731 max2205
max2205's picture

This is bs.  I've tested shorting on Etrade for 5 days and all were rejected

This is now an urban legend.   That screen shot is photo shopped 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:15 | 6818239 EscapeKey
EscapeKey's picture

having been a small-time trader some years back, a part of me does have some sympathy.

but a larger part of me thinks he's a complete fucking idiot. shorting a thinly traded stock (+no options), and keeping the position overnight!?!? and the man has wife and kids? that's just either completely stupid, or really, really ignorant.

either way, he should not be in the market.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:29 | 6818310 Rikky
Rikky's picture

Nope it's the oldest sin in the book, GREED.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:29 | 6818316 de3de8
de3de8's picture

Greed will get you every time

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:06 | 6818512 ebear
ebear's picture

That, or stupidity.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:02 | 6818717 CPL
CPL's picture

Look on Nov 13th KBIO put out the news that they were winding down operations.  translated: 'fuck it, we can't complete in the asthma market because we don't make puffers that are covered by insurance'  (true story...because the insurance companies don't want anyone cured.  They want to assist their investments that back their insurance policies that have a reoccurring revenue model to allow for consistent returns on growth.  Asthma puffers are big business and the foxes are watching the hen house.)

The only people that would have bought them off of them in the retail arena are all covering their shorts, the trading houses certainly wouldn't want the adopted risk for many reasons.  Pharma stocks in this type of play, pennies to dollars, the main issue now for Shkreli is unloading the stock into a market that really couldn't give a fuck about. Now even if Shkreli is purchasing the company to produce a cure for asthma, he'll just end up with a bullet in the head because he would be considered a running liability to practically the entire FIRE division of the economy (FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE - FIRE).  There are many that have tried in the past and failed.  For something like asthma, they'll just ruin his life.  For something like cancer or heart disease, they just get "accidented".

As far as the facts are presented.  I'd go with stupid and it's no one's problem to fix that.  Let's look in a week or two when Shkreli's consortium is left holding the bag on a bunch of worthless Pharma shares because even though volume is high right now.  It's a better chance that in the near future those millions and millions and millions of shares will take forever to unload.  The only people that would have bought them off of them are all covering their shorts and it's not a fund ready stock.  The fact is no one is interested in a cure for anything and holding a majority share it is just waving a big flag saying 'come fuck my shit up'.  The idea of holding on for hush money is silly, much cheaper and easier to hire stock sharks to attack a hedge fund.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 18:44 | 6819582 RAT005
RAT005's picture

Nice. The system supporting its sick self is prevalent in many places. 

For instance people often mix Obamacare, which is only a marginally valid insurance contract, with actual health care. The two have almost nothing to do with each other. 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 19:07 | 6819641 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

Reverse merger...

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:02 | 6818730 The Ingenious G...
The Ingenious Gentleman's picture

You don't want to combine those two.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 17:29 | 6819333 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

That, or stupidity.

 

 

No, ebear.

 

It is especially greed when it is combined with ignorance and stupidity.

 

Those are the necessary elements of the Perfect Storm to ensure one's destruction and devastation.

 

Just look to Wall Street and the Financial "Wizards"...that have ensured the collapse of Western Civilization

 

And all I have to do is look at the proprietor of the Pawn Shop below. He is a textbook example.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:41 | 6818379 kralizec
kralizec's picture

What is to say this fool won't make another mistake?

What will all those cotributors feel like then?

Taxpayers, maybe...

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:53 | 6818448 847328_3527
847328_3527's picture
Man Undergoes Surgery to Look Like Pet Parrot

 

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/man-undergoes-surgery-to-look-li...

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:16 | 6818557 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Could be worse...he could have a pet Blob Fish.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:41 | 6818653 City_Of_Champyinz
City_Of_Champyinz's picture

A little from column A, a little for column B.  I just love how he has only been 'trading' since March...So ridiculous.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:42 | 6818109 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

There has never been a better time to lose your ass shorting stocks.

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:49 | 6818424 new game
new game's picture

does kim k short the market, hehe

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:37 | 6818082 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

All he has to do to cover his ass is make more substantial donations the the Clinton Campaign and 'Foundation.'

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:40 | 6818100 firstdivision
firstdivision's picture

I hope GS is calling around desperate to cover.  Then they will come looking for Martin, and sick the various agencies on him.  Hilarity will ensue.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:08 | 6818524 orez65
orez65's picture

You got into the hole, you get out of it. 

Would you have shared your winnings?

What a bunch of sh.t!!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:45 | 6818641 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

The "trader" said he was "ok" if he lost the $37,000 he had in the account!

All right folks, how much of your wealth are you "Ok" with losing?

I would sweat 10%...meaning I had $370,000 total...

20%...$185.000 total

30%!!!...still $120,000 in total funds.

He's got to be sitting on a PILE of money if he's (and his wife) "ok" with losing $37,000!

I wouldn't give this fuck sypathy, let alone a nickel for his "problems".

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:38 | 6818074 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

Joe should do the smart thing and take that $5K and hire a Bankruptcy Attorney.

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:38 | 6818091 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

I think he's gonna need it for a divorce attorney.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:52 | 6818438 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

So this debacle has a silver lining after all.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:44 | 6818666 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

BK attorney first! If the BK says no recourse, then the divorce lawyer better be put on retainer.

But, like I posted above...if he's "OK" with losing $37,000...he's probably sitting on a shit-ton of cash and BK isn't an option.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:54 | 6818700 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

He'll get Shkrewed in the divorce, too!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:39 | 6818094 Haka Matohi
Haka Matohi's picture

Might be better spent on a shrink, no pun intended...

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:46 | 6818122 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

Joe should use that money to get a vasectomy.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:14 | 6818235 Turin Turambar
Turin Turambar's picture

A hitman would be infinitely more useful to both him and society.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:22 | 6818579 Kassandra
Kassandra's picture

We have a new word for the Urban Dictionary.
Calling a complete asshole a "Shkreli."

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:32 | 6818609 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

...or how about use as a verb for ass rape?

"We Shkrelied some folks..."

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:38 | 6818632 Kassandra
Kassandra's picture

That's even better!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:22 | 6818271 CAF
CAF's picture

No need.....

It is just a margin acount, so the brokerage has no collateral on it other than a personal guarantee.  Collecting on a personal guarantee is expensive, time consuming, and many times impossible, especially for 100K of debt.  

Now you may be thinking....Well they can take his house, cars, etc. etc.  Well no.....  The real bonus is that the guy is married, thus all of his assets are likley held jointly by him and his wife.  Do you think his wife signed personally on the brokerage account?  Yes... possible problem.... No.... brokerage is screwed. 

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:35 | 6818078 Byte Me
Byte Me's picture

JUMP ya fukkr

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:26 | 6818835 Zero Point
Zero Point's picture

What kind of spineless wimp would merely commit suicide, when there's a perfectly good Martin Shkreli to take with you when you go?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:37 | 6818088 SillyWabbits
SillyWabbits's picture

Call the Regulators and say, I'm too big to fail!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:41 | 6818103 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

Hostile takeover.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:45 | 6818115 Jethro
Jethro's picture

Joe Campbell now has the proper qualifications to work for GAO, IRS or any number of government agencies.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:45 | 6818394 t0mmyBerg
t0mmyBerg's picture

Well said.  I was thinking as I read this what moron would a) get into such a position and b) not get out the second that crooked elbow developed down there and he started to take a loss.  And people think commodities are dangerous.  Pussycats compared to stocks.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:45 | 6818117 stant
stant's picture

What's next? ISIS opens trading accounts and blows them up suicide style destroying the markets?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:49 | 6818123 One And Only
One And Only's picture

The only people who donated to this schmuck are naive women with wounded bird syndrome. 

I'm trying this. Make some sad story and just have stupid woman send me money. Talk about how I'm a starving baby in Africa  and all I have eaten is single potato. Donate here please.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:50 | 6818145 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

It would be interesting to see just how much you get.  People are fucking morons.

They deserve to be fleeced.  Your story should have a kernel of truth to it like your

dog died (in 1999).   

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:58 | 6818167 medium giraffe
medium giraffe's picture

'Victims of MFGlobal' fund.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 19:01 | 6819619 mkkby
mkkby's picture

I just read the book "The Sociopath Next Door". 

1 in 25 of us are sociopaths (have no conscience), and I see a few are around here.  Scamming sympathetic women?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:01 | 6818185 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

Who hangs out on GoFundMe? 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:11 | 6818225 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

Schmucks.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:31 | 6818325 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

i got a three legged dogs thats twin sister died in a plane crash and now needs emotional coaching and a new bmw would you be so kind as to reach deep into your heart and spear some change

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:55 | 6818456 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

I'm now an orphan as I've murdered my parents. Please help!!

Film rights are still for sale as well.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:08 | 6818526 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

What's the max I can contribute and where do I send it?

Can I have some of the selfies you took?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:32 | 6818335 de3de8
de3de8's picture

Potato is too good, use tree bark instead

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:57 | 6818468 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

You saw Hillary and Yellen naked together and need help paying the Unaffordable Psychiatric treatment you now need.  You might get some ZH'er to help with that cause.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:48 | 6818124 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

He owes 106K.  He's colllected 5K.

106k - 5k = 101k 

I dropped 5K on airline tickets and JR railpasses last night.  Hope I don't get a margin call.

I don't know who 's the biggest schmuck:  the guy who got the margin ass reaming or those

who sent him the bucks.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:16 | 6818245 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

maybe someone should have sent him instruction on how to use a stop loss.............i dont think he was trading on a 5min chart so he should have been wiser

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:37 | 6818364 bonin006
bonin006's picture

Stop losses don't work when your stock is in free fall from HFT gone berserk, or short squeeze causing quadruple in minutes.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 17:22 | 6819310 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

Well, while his debt is not secured by anything, there may be a cut-off point that changes how the brokerage comes after him. If he can get under that soft limit that would actually be a good play.

If that limit is 100k, all he has to do is channel his inner John Corzine and not give a f*ck about the rest.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:48 | 6818129 F em all but 6
F em all but 6's picture

Stupid is as stupid does

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:49 | 6818135 NYPoke
NYPoke's picture

I thought the whole Naked Short thing was outlawed.  Did I miss something?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:53 | 6818155 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

HUH?  Unless you own the security, eg, shorting against the box, then you are "naked" short.  Most shorts are "naked".

The short aginst the box mechansim is market neutral--it is done to protect a position that you do not wish to liquidate for whatever

reason.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:58 | 6818173 NYPoke
NYPoke's picture

Got it.  Thank you.  Obviously, I don't try this kind of trading.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:54 | 6818451 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

At least you are poking around to enhance your cognitive skills.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:58 | 6818475 MadVladtheconquerer
MadVladtheconquerer's picture

Basically, what Urban Redneck said that I neglected to mention:  when you short, you are borrowing shares from someone who is long those shares.

In terms of the market neutral posture, (short against the box), you actually borrow the shares from yourself.  The tax consequences differ for a loss

on the short side vs a gain on the short side in this case.

See: http://www.traderstatus.com/shortsale.htm AND http://www.hightoweradvisors.com/pdfs/Equus_Reports_Short_Against_the_Bo... (notice the date on this one!)

Derivatives like options (puts/calls) can be truly naked as you may write (sell) a put/call on a security that you do not own (naked put or call). 

If the option is exercised, you will need to buy the security in the open market at current price to satisfy the option buyer's exercise.  Sorry for any confusion.

This is a brief description of the diff levels of options trading that Urban Redneck was referring to as to be restricted by a broker regarding certain client accts:

https://scs.fidelity.com/webxpress/help/topics/learn_trading_options.sht...

 

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:19 | 6818256 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

This short isn't naked unless the broker does not first borrow the security before executing the short sale.  With T+3 settlement in the equities market the broker has 3 days to deliver the security to the buyer or it's a failure to deliver.  Naked short selling is more of issue/problem in derivative markets where the underlying asset is potentially never delivered, and there are actually rules which exempt certain market participants from the ban on naked shelling.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:45 | 6818398 NYPoke
NYPoke's picture

So, from what I gather here, the SEC implemented rules to save brokeages ( & general Wall Street Big Whigs) and left the Consumer to continue to completely screw him/herself.

 

That is something I CAN understand.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:53 | 6818442 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

JP Morgan has been naked short selling US Treasuries, a form of back-door QE, but since the failure to deliver is between JP & the FED...nothing happens except free fiat with interest for the JP Morgue & other like minded entities.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:51 | 6818430 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

If you have no shorts,then technically you are naked.  The only real technical these days.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:54 | 6818159 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

Laws?

You are funny.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:52 | 6818148 PunkSgt
PunkSgt's picture

What is this douchbags twitter handle?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:40 | 6818648 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

@I'mJOEaFUCKINGMORON

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:53 | 6818154 RealityCheque
RealityCheque's picture

Live with the consequences you fucking pussy.

If you're name isn't Goldman Sachs or JPM, then no do-over for you!

Maybe your Missus will also come to the conclusion that you are a fucking retard for trying to short anything in this "market" and then dump your dumb ass.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:54 | 6818156 Reichstag Fire Dept.
Reichstag Fire Dept.'s picture

KBIO is like a giant, out-of-control, erect cock that won't stop fucking rookie short sellers in the ass! :D

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:54 | 6818157 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

If useless paper pushers want to kill themselves, please, LET THEM!!!!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:59 | 6818180 TheABaum
TheABaum's picture

Norfolk Southern is also squuezing the shorts. 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:04 | 6818192 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

Kill all traders - market warping parasites of productive work!! Huzzah!!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:20 | 6818263 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

someone must be mad they cant make 6 figures in 15 minutes

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:23 | 6818280 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

traders are not the problem. its the CEOs, the regulators, politicians, and the public that looks at gun and blood backed US dollar and do nothing.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:49 | 6818420 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

You will like this; just think of your comment and put it in the context of the American "silent majority".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MUZ8QIrjRo

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:05 | 6818197 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

This might be a good time to short ETrade.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:07 | 6818203 Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights's picture

Good off yourself, more food for the rest of us.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:14 | 6818233 Icelandicsaga.....
Icelandicsaga...............................................'s picture

Shkreli .... one of the guys who will make lots of funny money, for the short term, will also exemplify why the system is going to crash, crash big. While everyone bashes twit for brains, Joe Campbell, guys like Shkreli are finishing off modern version of barbarians sack Rome. Painful to watch, painful to realize good people will be financially destroyed.  But if I were Shkreli, or member of Deep State, scion of the 5 big banks, or corporate monoplies, those sitting on board of IMF, BIS, etc.  .......there is not a bunker deep enough, or island far enough, to save them from what is going down. Shkreli better have a good plastic surgeon, that smug piece of shit needs his face rearranged........karma will happen..soon.

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:17 | 6818251 wisebastard
wisebastard's picture

he should have blamed Jim Cramer

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:17 | 6818252 BarnacleBill
BarnacleBill's picture

I really, really hope that Joe Campbell has joined Gamblers Anonymous, and now has a "buddy" that he can phone next time he gets the urge to do something so incredibly stupid and utterly reckless.

I'm reminded of the scene in "Guys and Dolls" where Big Julie insists on rolling his own dice. Nathan Detroit complains that the dots have all been shaved off, only to be assured, "That's all right. Big Julie remembers where they are." Joe: all the big hitters know where the dots are; all the amateurs don't.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:25 | 6818287 My Days Are Get...
My Days Are Getting Fewer's picture
“‎Honoured sir, poverty is not a vice, that's a true saying . . . But beggary, honoured sir, beggary is a vice. In poverty you may still retain your innate nobility of soul, but in beggary--never--no one. For beggary a man is not chased out of human society with a stick, he is swept out with a broom, so as to make it as humiliating as possible; and quite right, too, forasmuch as in beggary as I am ready to be the first to humiliate myself.”

Fyodor DostoyevskyCrime and Punishment

 

Society devolving into a collection of Raskolnikovs.

 

 He wants water! He can drink paddy water!

 

Apocalypse Now

 

 

 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:27 | 6818301 Rikky
Rikky's picture

Welcome to the new America where accountability and personal responsibility can be bypassed by getting others to pick up your tab.  Every tom dick and harry is out there trying to raise money for their little slice of heaven.  It's quite pathetic.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:30 | 6818320 bluskyes
bluskyes's picture

It's called: follow our leaders.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:58 | 6818471 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

Brainstorm, new web donation page - GoFuckMe, will supply sexual favors to all comers.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 16:43 | 6819146 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

I believe that particular idea was already deployed by the Clinton Foundation. There is an island for that somewhere...

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:29 | 6818313 humanstakeaction
humanstakeaction's picture

Bailouts would be fine if they were voluntary, like this one.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:29 | 6818314 humanstakeaction
humanstakeaction's picture

Bailouts would be fine if they were voluntary, like this one.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:30 | 6818324 Amy G. Dala
Amy G. Dala's picture

Hell, he's only 32 years stupid.  Got a long way to go.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:35 | 6818354 BustainMovealota
BustainMovealota's picture

I doubt he would shared his profits, if there were any, with the public.   Like a bank bail out, the public share in the loss but not in the profits. 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:38 | 6818367 fightapathy
fightapathy's picture

So its the case of Greedy vs. Greedier. Whowill be more greedy? Whowill mercilessly slaughter the other just for the gleeful joy of bathing in their spillt blood, cackling insanely? My money's on Shkreli -- he's a ruthless lil cunt.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:39 | 6818372 EdSav
EdSav's picture

Shkreli spent ~2,520,894.37 to make ~28.437mil.. Ooooh yeah that's good old fashioned hedge fund alpha.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:02 | 6818375 Palladin
Palladin's picture

This Shkreli guy is pretty smart. The company that he owned originally, Turing Pharmaceuticals got front page headlines after he raised the price of a common drug from a dollar to $750 a pill. Hillary and other congress critters got after him so there was probably no chance he would ever be able to take Turin public.

He comes up with what has to be called a very ingenious plan. He finds a bankrupt company, KBIO that is going out of business, has a small float of 4M shares and is trading at less than a dollar. For a $3M investment he gets 50% of the company.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1293310/000114420415066696/xslF34...

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1293310/000114420415066900/xslF34...

And he partners with a company called Anthion Partners II LLC to pick up some more shares

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1293310/000114420415066784/xslF34...

A little background on the guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli

In 2000, Shkreli was a college intern and then clerk at Jim Cramer's Cramer, Berkowitz, & Co. After four years at Cramer Berkowitz, he held jobs at UBS and Intrepid Capital Management before starting his first hedge fund, Elea Capital Management, in 2006. Shkreli launched MSMB Capital Management (named after the two founding Portfolio Managers, Martin Shkreli and Marek Biestek

Mind you now that KBIO was in the process of shutting down operations because of all of the drugs they had were failures. No sales, no products.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kalobios-wind-down-operations-214000347.html

I'm guessing that he placed a few calls to his HFT buddies at maybe Citidel and a few others and alerted them to what was going on. KBIO was trading at $.90 when they made this announcement on 11/13: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=KBIO+Historical+Prices

On 11/16 they made their move, and bought the 2M shares for an average price of $1.50 and had controlling interest in the company. And what do you know, on 11/16 the stock trades 50x prior day's volume, and two days later it's trading a high of $25 and ends up closing at $10 on 12M share volume which is 6x the entire float. I'm guessing Aunt Tilly and her friend Martha aren't responsible for that kind of volume.

Today, 11/20 the stock doubles again, and Nanex shows that 46% of the volume is coming from Dark Pools, that Aunt Milly doesn't have access to.

https://twitter.com/nanexllc/status/667734834320551936

Today Shkreli announces he is the CEO of KBIO and I expect all the former employees of KBIO will be gone by the end of the year. All to be replaced by Shkreli's personnel. And you can expect all of Turing Pharmaceuticals employees will soon be working at KBIO and all of Turing Pharmaceuticals drugs will be branded KBIO.

What Shkreli has done is to IPO Turing Pharmaceuticals without having to go through all the reglatory crap, pay underwriters, do a road show, and deal with Wall Street Analysts. He's also avoided the de-listing problems with a stock trading under a dollar on NASDAQ as KBIO was on 11/13, thanks to the HFT pump. And all of this is legal.

All Shkreli has done is to shove a big dick up the SEC's and Finra's ass. There's nothing they can do about any of this, and I bet Shkreli is getting a big kick out of all of it. Not to mention the fact that his initial investment of $3M is worth about $36M one week later with KBIO now trading at $18.00 a share.

Got to hand it to him for gaming the system to his advantage.

Only on Wall Street.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:15 | 6818555 flysofree
flysofree's picture

Thanks for a nice analysis. How long can they keep the price up?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:24 | 6818827 apes hit
apes hit's picture

"How long can they keep the price up?"

Easy answer -- about one day longer than you can cover your short position.

This is great spectator sport, but best to stay in the bleachers and watch the game play out from a safe distance. You may think you can profit, but it doesn't always end up the way you'd expect, at least from a time perspective. Using a "naked" analogy, imagine streaking across a football field (assuming you're young, attractive, and fit), you may see open field ahead, but suddenly be blindsided by a 320lb nose tackle as you reach midfield.....not so fun now.

 

"“I have reluctantly reached the conclusion that nothing is more suicidal than a rational investment policy in an irrational world”  -- attributed to John Maynard Keynes

Mon, 11/23/2015 - 14:53 | 6819226 Palladin
Palladin's picture

I think things will settle down and maybe the stock trades around $15-$20 for a while. Then I think the next move will be to issue a secondary offering of 20M shares with no voting rights. Kinda like the Alphabet gang did with GOOG and GOOGL. The reason I think this is a slam dunk is that along with appointing Martin Shkreli as its CEO and Board chairman there were some other appointments that the MSM missed. And that is that they also They also elected David Moradi, Tony Chase, and Marek Biestek to it's board.

And who are these people? David Moradi is from Anthion Partners II LLC and they were the ones that purchased the stock for Martin Shkreli from this SEC filing. And you won't find much on Anthion Partners available. No Web site that I could find.

www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1293310/000114420415066784/xslF345X03/v4...

If you look at this document you see that the amounts are duplicated. One for direct, one for indirect. But if you do a search for Anthion Partners II LLC you will get numerous stories on how they purchased 713,726 shares of KBIO. Seems nobody in the MSM bothered to take a closer look at the actual filing. More likely they just copied and pasted whatever somebody else said.

And wonder of wonders, the other guy that was appointed to the board was Marek Biestek. From the Wikipedia article we see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli

---------------------------------------------------------------------

In 2000, Shkreli was a college intern and then clerk at Jim Cramer's Cramer, Berkowitz, & Co. After four years at Cramer Berkowitz, he held jobs at UBS and Intrepid Capital Management before starting his first hedge fund, Elea Capital Management, in 2006. Shkreli launched MSMB Capital Management (named after the two founding Portfolio Managers, Martin Shkreli and Marek Biestek) in 2009.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know who Tony Chase is, but since we have Jim Cramer in the mix you can count on the fact that Shkreli has Cramer on speed dial. With this gang of sleeze balls expect lots of hype.

And that brings the Research Whores to the party. They will do anything to get some attention. Take this moron over at Forbes that has the gall to come up with this conclusion. The company, KBIO was ceasing operations because none of their drugs worked. The company was going to voluntarily cease operations. And this somehow this guy comes up with this puff piece: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2015/11/19/what-martin-sh...

And others will pick it up because it's Forbes, don't ya know and soon the web will be full of stories like this praising Shkreli and how he "tapped undisovered wonder drugs" or something like that.

I expect the hype around the secondary offering will be epic.

Edit - 11/23/15

Just for the record to show how wrong you can be when it comes to this HFT induced ramp. One day later, from Friday 11/20 to Monday 11/23 the stock hit a high of $45 up 150% for the day, double what I thought it might do as it settled down. 

.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 16:47 | 6819160 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

My bet is that a MM firm got hosed selling counterfeit shares.

That kind of purchase size without moving the price substantially?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:47 | 6818409 voxpopuli
voxpopuli's picture

Has Joe tried to tax directly Martin Shkreli ?

 


Fri, 11/20/2015 - 13:48 | 6818411 voxpopuli
voxpopuli's picture

"go to the source of your troubles" i read in a book.

 


Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:07 | 6818516 lasvegaspersona
lasvegaspersona's picture

I thought shorting was illegal....at least unpatriotic...er...is that China...no...China is where you get shot for shorting...

The lesson is that stocks always go up and you should never ever short...right?

....I get my training from the ETrade baby.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:28 | 6818596 .National Suici...
.National Suicide 1980's picture

"Go Fund Me"

I had sex with Charlie Sheen, and Magic Johnson.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:32 | 6818611 Chris88
Chris88's picture

Why do people invest in shit that they are clueless about?  Really, aside from being an equity analyst/investment banker/private equity associate etc,, you most likely couldn't analyze a stock for shit.  Especially Biotechs, where most analysts have PhDs in biochemistry and still have finance education.  As somebody who covers specialty finance companies among other "strange" financial services, I am still clueless as to why a bunch of retail morons invest in stuff that they have NO CHANCE of ever understanding.  This is why we get retarded stock price movements.  Amatuer, couldn't read a balance sheet (like LTER),, put your retirement money in great companies not going anywhere like XOM, MSFT, etc.  What a fucking moron.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 16:14 | 6819021 css1971
css1971's picture

It's called the Dunning-Kruger effect. When you are incompetent about something, you don't realise just how incompetent you are. It explains pretty much every flame war ever on the Internet.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:34 | 6818620 zeroaccountability
zeroaccountability's picture

"Lawdy Lawd, oh, please Lawd, just let me get back to even. PLEASE!  I swear, I'll never play that mean old stock market again.  Oh, please, Lawdy,,,,......

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 14:38 | 6818633 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

lol

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:00 | 6818711 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Jump, you fuckers!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:05 | 6818741 Nico Bellik
Nico Bellik's picture

"massive manipulation scheme to destroy shorts" it's call a fucking short squeeze - let these fuckers die on the vine if they are too stupid to understand what they are doing -  obtw will someone pay my tax bill this year I have come up short - too much blow and hookers - fuck off

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:05 | 6818743 ChargingHandle
ChargingHandle's picture

If you cannot pay your bills, maybe you should not play with the big boys. What a baby. 

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:07 | 6818753 4 wheel drift
4 wheel drift's picture

GoFundMe ????

i think that was a grave mistake.....

it should be.... 

GoFUCKME...

-lololol

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 16:13 | 6819015 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

There are legitimate needs that are not being met.  Have you been to the site and it will not take long, I'm sure, to find a situation that could use a little help.  I wonder if you have ever been in need and actually received some help, whether it was small or not and whether the problem was caused by a choice or mistake you made.  I'm guessing if you think real hard; the answer is probably yes and you were thankful for the help.  In this case, I do not think I would help the person, but if I knew the person and the family, then I might.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:13 | 6818777 OldBoy
OldBoy's picture

 $5,3100?

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:20 | 6818808 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

People stupid enough to actually give him money?

Standard Disclaimer: I need to get in on this!

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 15:51 | 6818939 Paracelsus
Paracelsus's picture

When the VW options thing blew up (ON A FRIDAY) I laughed my ass off.

The Wall Street vulture bloodsuckers crying foul because someone shafted them

EXACTLY AS THEY WOULD'VE SOME OTHER GUY.

The whole naked short trade business is ABOUT RISK AND REWARD.

 Stop whining when you screw up and lose your bonuses.

Missing out on a hot tub of teenage brazilian hookers won't kill ya.

I think they were mostly upset about having to chopper in from the Hamptons

to the office on the weekend.

Fri, 11/20/2015 - 16:06 | 6818990 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

The first line of your comment demonstrates the depravity of your inward person; welcome to the human race, the race that seems to feel better off the misery of other.  Usually an indicator of their own miserable life or weakness because as the saying goes; "misery loves company" & "Bad company corrupts good morals".

 

Depravity:   Moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles

Reprobate: ( a good substitute):A person without moral scruples

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