Three Hundred Years of Stock Market Manipulations

Abstract

The internet has revolutionized the dissemination of information and disinformation that move markets. Deliberate manipulation of prices is not new. Many time-honored nefarious ploys are back in electronic form. The anonymity and ease of entry afforded by the internet creates risks and opportunities for investors and traders. This article places the new technology of market manipulation in a historical context, reviews a number of remarkable manipulations, and suggests the basis for strategies needed in modern markets.