"So nothing underhanded, I just didn't get the sp result I wanted. Today is another fine day."

The picture is a little bigger than this. Today you could have actually raised the sp a penny or two but in early Aug., the market could see a drop by that point with NOT down several pennies. So, fighting the market would require some very deep pockets.....like Fed sized. If anyone is trying to play games with the sp it would make sense to do it when the market supports one's intent....which might well be going on.