E*TRADE is not providing any specific reason for the Online Buy Restriction. Which is kind of suspect not so much to their everyday consumer but to the Company itself. That is why many believe they may have discovered something irregular with their trading MM ETRF and possibly what the Algo Trading was doing as far a building a short position. All Speculative end of day but there is no sugar coating the fact this has crippled volume on this ticker and caused many New Investors to pass it by.
No Online orders equal less Volume, Less bid support, less pressure buying.
Manipulation on the next level. Legal I am not qualified to answer that but I have my opinion.