I see your point; if that is what really happened. After all, there are those out there who would use any trick I suppose to farther their own personal gain. But let me present to you another possibility.
Many junior High Schools have programs in economics to help teach young people a little about the world of investing. So the school puts up a small amount of money to invest in stock during differing school quarters. Lets say= & 500.00 . It can be done as a class or as several individuals within that class as a type of competition. So a small amount of Stock, any where from 50 to several hundred shares are purchased and held for a given period of time. Then at the end of that time period, who ever had the best gain wins. Then all shares are sold off.
It does not matter what may be going on in that stock, they buy and sell by the school programs timing. In this case at .09 that the 166 shares were sold at only equals $14.94. So if it were a real person they would pay the trade costs of buying in and selling to get out which percentage wise is a killer. And what would they achieve, a very short time period of a low ?? Doesn't make a lot of sense when viewed by cost vs achievement ! Consider also that brokerage firms will wave any trading costs for educational credits and of course the good PR and tax breaks for them and you have a winning school program for the kids !!
Not saying that this is what happened here. Who really knows for sure. But it seems a better possibility to me.
But if it was as you think I don't believe the individual whom would have done it is all that bright!! JMPO
