Since the current financial crisis escalated, the SEC has indicated that market manipulation is an area of emphasis and it will use its enforcement authority to combat it.

Chairman Christopher Cox and Division of Enforcement Director Linda Chatman Thomsen announced that the Commission will investigate ?any suggestion of manipulative trading? in order to ?ensure that hidden manipulation, illegal naked short selling, or illegitimate trading tactics do not drive market behavior and undermine confidence.?1 They also announced that those under investigation will be required, under oath, to disclose their positions to the SEC.2

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