As we reported last month, an anonymous investor placed a bet of 245,000 put options on an index of Europe's top 50 stocks falling by a third to a half before September 21st. In addition, unusual options were placed betting on a big drop in the S&P 500.
This led many to speculate that the trader was exploiting foreknowledge of a new 9/11 or another imminent catastrophe that would send markets tumbling.
However, market analyst Clif Droke of SilverSeek.com has slammed the trades as being part of a "summer of fear," a scare tactic used by insiders to profit from consequential dips in stocks as the credit crunch sunk its teeth in.
"These high-profile 'mystery' trades were just some of the fear tactics used by several independent and mainstream media outlets to conjure up images of another 9/11-type terrorist episode. Indeed, Halloween was early in coming this year for many...The fact that the massive put options were placed is not in doubt. Dow Jones Financial News confirmed the trades in their August 16th article, 'Mystery trader bets market will crash by a third'.
I predict the promoters of this particular fear campaign will simply put their hands in their pockets, walk away and whistle a rousing rendition of “Dixie,” all the while conveniently forgetting they ever made such dire predictions in the first place. Their mission was accomplished: they convinced millions of everyday investors and observers to hit the panic button and run for cover while they, the fear promoters, profited immensely on the very fear they engendered."
But was this part of a broader strategy to chill confidence in the markets and make a more widespread profit after stocks dipped following the Northern Rock bank crisis at the end of last week before the Fed cut interest rates?
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