For the first time since Novemeber 2012 (when QE4EVA was kicked off in style), the Russell 2000 - that long-heralded indication that everything is great in the US economy and the indicator that stocks are great at discounting the future that is undoubtedly rosy - has broken back below its 200-day moving-average. In the meantime, an oddly dominant algorithm is swamping options markets with millions of fake orders..."rigged?"
[4]
Of course this is a crucial level so this from Nanex raise our eybrows...
#Alert [5] Out of control #HFT [6] algo blasting millions and millions of fake orders in options. May be a record setter
— Eric Scott Hunsader (@nanexllc) April 15, 2014 [7]
What's better than leaving an audit trail of actual manipulative buys (or VIX sells) than swamping the market with million of fake orders in order to confuse and placate any actual real sell orders?