February 8, 2022
As a retail investor with some experience, I am fully in favour of transparent and fair markets that bring equality to all participants. Having read this ruling it seems that it moves market participants more towards the implementation of fair markets, bringing clearer definition of fraudulent and unbalanced behaviours.
I am fully in favour of a reduction in explotiation of \"gray areas\", reduction of loopholes in prohibited activities. I am also in favour of more frequent and more accurate reporting that will help both retail and commercial investors to make better informed decisions.
Lastly I applaud the approach from the SEC to ensure that market participants are well aware of their responsibilities and limits in a regulated market space, however I will point out that this means nothing without proper enforcement and a MUCH more punitive set of fines to serve as a proper deterrent against fraud and other criminal behaviours. No participant should be allowed to get away with a fine that is inconsequential to their financial resources. Actual criminal behaviour should also be rewarded with an appropriate type of criminal sentence, such as jail or a significant sanction / ban against organisations that have committed criminal actions.
Please follow up with proper monitoring and ACTION against market manipulation for criminal gain. The current state of the US markets and the price action offered by these markets strongly suggests widespread fraud to this foreign investor. I question how wise it is for me to hazard my limited financial resources in such an environment.