[NativeNewYorker]

Shorting individual stocks is time and capital consuming, leaving a long paper trail.

It is FAR more efficient to short futures or buy put options on indicies.

You want leverage? Buy short-dated out-of-the-money puts on S&Ps - interestingly, the Sep series expires this week.

I dare say trading records are going to be examined VERY carefully.

BTW, I am NOT short.

[jennyp]

I guess my question in post 22 is for you too. Even with highly leveraged instruments, how would it destroy the markets? (Aside from the general fact of more volatility, etc.)

The only massive disruption I can think of was the Long Term Capital Management debacle, and they destroyed themselves in the process. (Then there was Nelson & Bunker Hunt, and they bankrupted themselves too, didn't they?)