• Varyk
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Wait a tick. if I buy 100 shares of Microsoft from a brokerage, the brokerage can still short those shares that I have bought?

    • TheHog@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yes! Or more accurately “lend” them to someone who will.

      Even if you have a broker that promises not to there is minimal regulation to stop them and if they get caught the fine is a (small) fraction of the money they make on that transaction (which is just a cost of doing business). I believe this was shown in r/superstonk just by someone looking at the sec filing.

      • Varyk
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        That’s crazy, it feels a lot like the fractional reserve scheme or also when banks can lend the money out and you get a ridiculous interest rate back on the money they’re making off of your money.

        I’m going to look into shorting the stock you buy though, since I don’t know about that one yet. Thanks!