Trump Media & Technology Group ($DJT) Rose Over 9.61

Shares of Donald Trump's media and technology company, Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT.O), rose over 9.61% on Friday after it asked the Nasdaq exchange to help prevent alleged market manipulation in its shares by so-called "naked" short sellers. The company disclosed this in a Friday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In the letter to Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, Trump Media CEO and former Congressman Devin Nunes suggested that the "naked" short-selling practice was to blame for the highly volatile nature of the company's shares. Short selling involves borrowing a stock to sell it on the expectation that the price will fall, then repurchasing the shares and pocketing the difference. "Naked" short-selling, which is generally illegal in the United States, involves selling shares without first borrowing them or determining they can be borrowed, creating the risk that the seller may not be able to deliver the shares.

Trump Media shares have been volatile and, in recent days, have hovered at nearly half their March 26 debut closing price of $57.99. "Reports indicate that, as of April 3, 2024, DJT was 'by far' the most expensive U.S. stock to short," Nunes said in the letter, citing a CNBC report from April 3. He did not provide evidence of naked short-selling but noted that as of April 17, DJT was on Nasdaq's Reg SHO threshold list, which he said is "indicative of unlawful trading activity."

The threshold list is comprised of securities that have failed to clear for five consecutive settlement days, which can indicate naked short-selling or administrative or technical issues. Nunes did not accuse any specific firms or individuals of naked short-selling but noted that "data made available to us indicate that just four market participants have been responsible for over 60% of the extraordinary volume of DJT shares traded: Citadel Securities, Virtu Americas, G1 Execution Services, and Jane Street Capital."