The “burners”, in this case, appear to be millennial day traders coordinating their efforts via various social media sites, Facebook, Reddit etc. Their sheer numbers in this fast-growing movement gives them enough firepower to warp a share price to levels that have forced the likes of Melvin Capital to cover their shorts at great loss or else go into liquidation. A pattern is developing where the trading “masses” are seeking to buy, not companies with great value, but companies which have been shorted the most. This is the “Riot” component, as their motivation is not necessarily driven by believing in the economics of the company targeted, rather to create a Ponzi scheme successful enough to squeeze the shorts to cover.
I have experienced or been spectator of many crises and bubbles over proceeding years; Irrational Exuberance; LTCM; Asia Crisis; Russia Crisis; Y2K; Lehmans; Greece; Bernanke Taper Tantrum; Trump China trade war and finally Covid 19. I can observe that the current price action is like bubbles of the past, however with long term implications.
The power to the longevity of this cycle, is driven by access to the markets via cheap or free “Robinhood” platforms, and smartphones, resulting in what is possibly just another form of “mobile entertainment” for those getting involved. I worry that this revolution of anger against disenfranchisement, wealth divide, student debt, housing etc, many things I empathise with, could be hijacked by those people who have history in creating mayhem with western political process and voting patterns. Such people have the will and technology to infiltrate the chat rooms and “gently sway” opinion on which stocks to target. This weaponizing of social media to attack the core vehicle of capitalism, is a new vulnerability that may need inventive financial regulation to defend from.
The latest iteration of a slow burn “war” between the have and have not generations is now underway. Comments such as “hey stock jockeys keep bringing it” from Point 72 hedge fund owner Steven Cohen, can only but fan the flames. There is now a new game in town – it isn’t a casino, it’s a riot.
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