[infinite8s]

Why would Eve worry about being caught? Everything you've outlined is perfectly legal, and in fact was executed brilliantly by Porsche (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-idUSTRE49R3I920...) in 2008.

[conistonwater]

> Although some short squeezes may occur naturally in the market, a scheme to manipulate the price or availability of stock in order to cause a short squeeze is illegal.

https://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/regsho.htm

[kirubakaran]

executed brilliantly by Porsche

Didn't really work out for them in the end. They executed the short squeeze to acquire VW but they're owned by VW now.

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/porsche-and-volkswagen-wha...

[jschulenklopper]

There are two Porsche companies. Porsche AG (the car company) is controlled/owned by Volkswagen AG, but there's also Porsche SE (holding company). The latter controls a 50.7% majority of voting rights of Volkswagen AG, for 31% of share ownership. The families of Porsche-Piech own 50% of Porsche SE, but 100% of the voting rights.

[colechristensen]

TL;DR Banks stopped lending to Porsche before it could seal the deal because 2008 happened.

[kirubakaran]

And Angela Merkel herself dissuaded the sheikh from lending Porsche money!

[rtpg]

My understanding of securities law is that intent is 95%. If you're doing market manipulation "just to make money" (instead of, say, to buy a company? Not really sure) then it's illegal.