RE:RE:RE:we had one traunchHouses are been allocated batches of stocks when the IPO's are issued. These stock are used by the houses to either go long or short depending on the situation and that is how they make their money. This is so in order to fulfil their mandade of maintaining order in the market. When large batches of stocks are ordered, they are going short at different prices and when the market goes south they cover positions and so the story goes. That is why these brokers buy the new issues and the retail investor cannot, so they can have the leaway to play around with the stock without losing money.