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GameStop stock doubles again with no let-up in amateur interest

Published 01/27/2021, 04:41 AM
Updated 01/27/2021, 06:00 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Outside a GameStop store people line up to purchase a Sony PS5 gaming console

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Outside a GameStop store people line up to purchase a Sony PS5 gaming console

(Reuters) - Shares of videogame retailer GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME) surged another 130% on Wednesday in pre-market trading as amateur investors continued to pile into the stock that has skyrocketed nearly 700% over the past two weeks.

The share spikes in GameStop and others including BlackBerry (NYSE:BB) Ltd, headphone maker Koss Corp and Nokia Oyj (HE:NOKIA), have sent short-sellers scrambling to cover losing bets, while raising questions about potential regulatory clampdowns.

The top securities regulator in Massachusetts thinks trading in GameStop stock, which has jumped to $148 a share from $19.95 since Jan. 12, suggests there is something "systemically wrong" with the options trading surrounding the stock, Barron's reported on Tuesday.

GameStop, BlackBerry and Nokia (NYSE:NOK) were among the most heavily traded U.S. stocks before the bell, with analysts putting the moves partly down to herds of amateur investors chasing tips from Reddit discussion threads or the private Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) group "Robin Hood's Stock Market Watchlist".

"These are not normal times and while the (Reddit) r/wallstreetbets thing is fascinating to watch, I can't help but think that this is unlikely to end well for someone," Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) strategist Jim Reid said.

Trading in GameStop stock was halted for volatility nine times on Monday and five times on Tuesday.

Short sellers in GameStop are down $5 billion on a mark-to-market, net-of-financing basis in 2021, which included $876 million of losses early Tuesday, according to analytics firm S3 Partners.

But some hedge funds have refused to budge from their bearish bets, with FIS' Analytics data showing investors had piled on $2.2 billion in bearish bets on GameStop - a whopping 20% of its market capitalization.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A sign is seen outside a GameStop store in Niles

Meanwhile in Europe, shares of Evotec and Varta jumped on chatter that Melvin Capital Management was being forced to unwind its short positions to cover losses on its other bearish bets, including GameStop.

Latest comments

Market makers are just out to wipe out short sellers’ money.
"War on the shorts" its just for fun guys
Good Grief!! Anyone look at the options pricing for GME? There's no way a stock can skyrocket without dump. Thought I might join in with a put near the money. For $50, they can keep it. Good luck fools!
i had it at 4.5 dolars in august 2020. i sold it because it was not moving.
howcome? from 5 to 150
I've made the same mistake myself. We've been drawn into this market where fast money is pretty easy. It's hard to hold stock that's not moving.
Hiii Melvin 👋
there is no check and balance from Stock exchange for such a big manipulation?
ask that to all the hedge funds for the past 50+ years
If someone is manipulating this stock it is doing very poorly. Manipulation is subtle and reveals itself after-the-fact. This is not manipulation. It is a takeover or a short squeeze. Game stop is not worth 300$ a share, but this can be fixed with a split 1:10. Lets see what could be the rationale of this price beyond speculation or short squeezing. I went last year to game stop to buy a ps4. They also buy the console from you if you wanna sell for money. I bought it new. The price of the second hand was 40$ less than the new. The used are bought at half price from them and sold at 80% of the value of a new one. So 30% return, no tax. For games is the same. I bought modernwarfare new and GT used. The pricing of used games varies, but it is a fraction of the price of the same one brand new. Typically is sold at 50% of the price of the new and bought from you at 1/4 of your purchase price. The real value is in my opinion in the market of used consoles that they buy cheap.
A lot of money on the streets due to the Fed
Power to the Players
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