InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[hock1]

nessco... That's easy. First off less than 5% of today's trading is done by individuals. These individuals, whether short or long terms investors, participate in a market where a zero-sum game no longer exists. The hedge funds and large brokers (95% of the trading) are playing a VERY short term game where, through the use of the non-existence of an uptick rule, the ability to sell shares that don't exist and the manipulation of equity and options market makers, they are able to make perhaps tenths of a percent everyday. This strategy tends to cap stcok prices in a narrow range.

The unsuspecting long-term investor, who is not aware of these tactics, has been conditioned to believe in holding for the long term. When this investor sees the fundamentals of his company improve with no commensurate stock price appreciation, he gets discouraged and sells. The unsuspecting short-term investor (trader) has even less of a chance of making money and quickly is out of the game.

So yes, nobody can stop an investor from buying a stock. What that investor needs to realize is that he may very well be buying "phantom" shares. Even if he buys real shares, more than likely, he will fall prey to the scenario above.