http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/what-high-frequency-trading-whats-fuss-n69196

Of course they are, and always have been.  Insider trading is rampant, as the frequent scandals demonstrate.  Individual stocks are manipulated by companies, accountants and raters to inflate their value so as to benefit those with options.

The values aren’t geared to worth, they are geared to illusions, and those illusions are easily created.

Stock markets are an example of what happens to the “free” market.  Companies are bait, CEOs are sharks.    And the public tries to outguess them.