OT:
This is criminal behaviour IMO:
“There is no definite date by which E*Trade would have to purchase the shares. In many cases, a broker/dealer will sell shares they don't hold hoping that the price will fall. If it does fall, the broker/dealer will buy the shares at that time, and deliver those newly acquired shares, making a profit. If the stock price continues to rise, the broker/dealer will eventually buy the shares and deliver them to prevent any additional losses."
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If you have an order, you expect that your order is part of the system, in fact your order should be part of creating the pps.
If brokers can choose the timing as mentioned above, than they are manipulating the pps IMO. They are not only manipulating the price per share, but also the volumes and the charts of stocks. IF it's true, than its not acceptable behaviour IMHO.
A brokers should give some form of confirmation, not only stating the price and the volume, but also that your order actually went to the market, including the transaction-time.
That's fair play.
Good luck,
Ceteksevenmillion