问题如下：
Pietro, president of Local Bank, has hired the bank’s market maker, Vogt, to seek a merger partner. Local is currently not listed on a stock exchange and has not reported that it is seeking strategic alternatives. Vogt has discussed the possibility of a merger with several firms, but they have all decided to wait until after the next period’s financial data are available. The potential buyers believe the results will be worse than the results of prior periods and will allow them to pay less for Local Bank. Pietro wants to increase the likelihood of structuring a merger deal quickly. Which of the following actions would most likely be a violation of the Code and Standards?
选项：
A. Pietro could instruct Local Bank to issue a press release announcing that it has retained Vogt to find a merger partner.
B. Pietro could place a buy order for 2,000 shares (or four times the average weekly volume) through Vogt for his personal account.
C. After confirming with Local’s chief financial officer, Pietro could instruct Local to issue a press release reaffirming the firm’s prior announced earnings guidance for the full fiscal year.
解释：
B is correct.
Through placing a personal purchase order that is significantly greater than the average volume, Pietro is violating Standard IIB–Market Manipulation. He is attempting to manipulate an increase in the share price and thus bring a buyer to the negotiating table. The news of a possible merger and confirmation of the firm’s earnings guidance may also have positive effects on the price of Local Bank, but Pietro’s actions in instructing the release of the information does not represent a violation through market manipulation. Announcements of this nature are common and practical to keep investors informed. Thus, answers A and C are incorrect.
老师问下 b这个2000shares不算大额吧 感觉不会操纵市场...