SEC monitoring market volatility after GameStop, AMC trading chaos

Former SEC director says he’s ‘sure’ commission investigating GME

Wedbush Securities managing director Michael Pachter and former SEC director Norm Champ discuss Reddit’s hand in moving Wall Street’s shorts.

Following days of enormous and unusual swings in stocks including GameStop and AMC, as well as concerned comments from the White House, the Securities and Exchange Commission has disclosed it is monitoring the situation.

Continue Reading Below

"We are aware of and actively monitoring the on-going market volatility in the options and equities markets and, consistent with our mission to protect investors and maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, we are working with our fellow regulators to assess the situation and review the activities of regulated entities, financial intermediaries, and other market participants" Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee,
Pete Driscoll, Director, Division of Examinations, Christian Sabella, Acting Director,  Division of Trading and Markets said in a statement.

TickerSecurityLastChangeChange %
GMEGAMESTOP CORP347.51+199.53+134.84%
AMCAMC ENTERTAINMENT HOLDINGS INC19.90+14.94+301.21%
Powered by

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Many of the stocks, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Blackberry, have become the target of short-sellers who bet on the share price falling, forcing a mechanism called short-covering driving up the stock prices. The four names have seen triple-digit percentage increases over consecutive trading days.

Five Consecutive Trading Sessions
GameStop: +762%
AMC: +538%
Bed Bath & Beyond: +103%

Nine Consecutive Trading Sessions
BlackBerry Limited: +237%Source: Dow Jones Market Group

White House Press Secretary Jenn Psaki was asked about the situation earlier today "Our team including Secretary Yellen and others are monitoring the situation" she said.

TickerSecurityLastChangeChange %
BBBYBED BATH & BEYOND INC.52.89+16.02+43.45%
BBBLACKBERRY LIMITED25.10+6.18+32.66%
Powered by

U.S. trading volume across all stock exchanges had the biggest day of the year with over 23 billion shares trading hands, as tracked by Dow Jones Market Data Group.

GAMESTOP, AMC GYRATIONS HIT CHARLES SCHWAB, TD AMERITRADE WITH OUTAGES

The heavy volume caused mobile outages at Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade as the firm's managed some communication via Twitter.

As individual investors vented online.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The SEC is currently without a permanent chair as President Biden's pick, Gary Gensler, awaits confirmation. Gensler, who once was Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is expected to take on his role with a tougher stance towards Wall Street.

Source: Read Full Article