We are in a period of a sea change , at the end of which manipulation will still be a profitable but very limited pastime. Wall St. , London and Zurich have survived the last 5 years on "The Big Trade" (using client $$) which requires ongoing manipulation of derivatives values as opposed to long term value creation. Rarely do you hear "Invest in this company/management because they are great creators of value". That is like trying to make money from horse racing by honestly selling it as entertainment. The modern investment bank does not care if the horses even get fed, as long as there is a race to make book on. Billions of dollars of bookmaking spreads are a better deal than worrying about whether the race makes sense or not. So, with the spreads far in excess of the gate revenues, a little organised manipulation of how fast the nags go (or die in the gate !) is a profit prerequisite. That is why BS went for $2, nothing to do with what you think of as banking.

As soon as your favorite stock is in an index, it is the subject of direct and indirect manipulation. If it has options , the same, Those are simple examples of much more complex schemes that will subject a stock to manipulation.

For VMS, any manipulation is very simple , limited, and short term. If VMS creates value, which it has done already very successfully, you and I will profit and hold the stock through month and quarter ends, and any withching periods. The only manipulation is the work of M&A traders, and we love them because they will pay the ultimate price to the patient long holder. In fact, without them, I would question my investment !!