B2B, could be "flat line" pink trolls
which I find an interesting concept. Here's another possibility. I would argue that it could be legitimate short covering by professionals since the trades took place in the open market and there was exactly enough on the bid side to cover the trade.
As you know, if an investor held GFCI in "street name" then those shares can be loaned. For example, if someone bought 3 million shares of GFCI for 5 cents ea., a broker inside e-trade could sell them short for net of ~$150K and hold the position as long as it was inn the black. If the customer he borrowed from finally sells "at market" (and he can't locate other shares to borrow) then he must bid to cover. He locks in his profit and the customer is satisfied!
Short sellers were JD's competition in the market to dump GFCI shares. The scammers were aware of them IMO and tried to fend them off with "buy back" PRs and the CTBG share dividend scheme. Legitimate shorts would be required to provide CTBG shares when/íf the share dividend was paid. As I recall, there was some delay in getting shares into customer's accounts from different brokers. There were also gyrations in CTBG's stock price at that time.
Yes, New Year's Eve is a happy time on Wall Street because it's the end of tax selling season. The professional, legitimate, stock shorting specialists have locked in profits on these losers and are flush with cash. Cash which can be used for many things. For example, an "investment" in the campaigns of political candidates, especially those who pledge to cut the SEC's budget and eliminate petty regulations that might interfere with business.
just my opinion with the benefit of hindsight
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