Anonymous Analytics describes itself as "a faction of Anonymous" that uses its "unique skills to expose fraud and corruption among public companies."
The group has published a series of stock reports that it says features information acquired through "unconventional means" (including, presumably, the anonymous drop box on its site for leaked documents). These reports detail secret malfeasance and book-cooking at publicly listed companies, notably Chinese company Rexlot Holdings (whose shares lost 75% of their value after AA's first report), Western Union and private prison giant Corrections Corporation of America, among others.
AA's reports aren't always damning; in the case of Demand Media, AA recommends going long.
The reports themselves are very competently written, and in the case of Rexlot, were borne out. Nevertheless, the combination of (small-a) anonymity with stock reporting is ripe for abuse — without knowing whether the people behind the reports have positions on the companies they're writing about, it's hard to tell whether this is activism (and if so, how some of the companies constitute useful activist targets), or pump-and-dump cloaked in a Guy Fawkes mask.
The group published its findings on June 24, 2015, and REXLot stock price plummeted from 0.485 Hong Kong dollar per share to 0.12, before trading was suspended.
REXLot rejoined the market on April 18, this year, but even after submitting a 53-page report, the company stock fell again by 50 percent.
After reading REXLot's report, the group tweeted, "After 10 months, REXLot publishes a confused clarification announcement. We read it and endless laughs were had. We will respond shortly." And they did, a day after. Another day after that, the group published a second report on the company and modified its rating from "sell" to "strong sell."
A week later, news outlets reported that REXLot did not have enough cash to make due bond payments, which meant the company had to sell assets to repay bonds, proving the group right, and also showing its power and influence in the financial world.
About us [Anonymous Analytics]
Anonymous Hackers Turned Stock Analysts Are Targeting US & Chinese Corporations
[Catalin Cimpanu/Softpedia]
(via /.)
