Long in one account and short in another, same stock, legal?

Discussion in 'Retail Brokers' started by Daal, Aug 28, 2007.

  1. Daal

    Daal

    Just checking..
     
  2. mde2004

    mde2004

    You serious???

    If so, you are wasting your time.
     
  3. Daal

    Daal

    say one of your brokers system go down and your left with a position on. I would like to know if I can hedge on a different account, indexes are not that good.
    If a broker like IB or MB goes down everybody and their mothers will be calling so calling the trade desk wont work...
     
  4. zdreg

    zdreg

  5. Yes... the "good old days".

    Many years ago...
    I would maintain "short against the box" positions...
    For hard to borrow stocks.

    Instead of closing out a short...
    Where I might not be able to borrow the stock again...
    I would just buy an equivalent long position...
    Then sell the long = shorting the stock.

    It can also be used to "disguise" market manipulation...
    BUT...
    Any ** intent ** to manipulate the market is illegal...
    It doesn't matter if you know or succeed or not.
     
  6. ElCubano

    ElCubano

    I would buy 100 shares on the watcher and then sell 1000 shares.....:eek:
     
  7. I got your PM, but am not sure what you want me to respond to. It is illegal to short in one account and be long in another account. And, if you did, you're basically flat and still have to mark the next sale as a short sale (because you're flat).

    No more uptick rule makes it easier, but you still have to mark short since the Clearing Firm has to borrow the stock, and yes, some stocks are still hard to borrow - has nothing to do with the uptick rule.

    Don