http://www.moneylife.in/article/stock-manipulation-amforge-industries/41917.html

Stock manipulation: Amforge Industries

28 May 2015

Moneylife

The stock rallied by as much as 756% and, from that level, stock fell 58%. A perfect example of a pump & dump

A mforge Industries was into metal forging business and catered mainly to the automobile industry. In December 2008, the operation of its Chinchwad plant was suspended “due to recession in the automobile industry,” according to the company’s annual report. A lock-out was declared in May 2009 due to unrest among workers. With almost no business activity over the past financial year, Amforge reported negligible revenues from operations. The only income was in the form of interest income and income from trading of equity investments. However, the stock rallied by as much as 756%, to Rs4.28 on 9 July 2014 from Re 0.50 on 1 January 2014. From that level, the stock fell 58%; but; over the past 17 months, the stock is up nearly 226%; to Rs1.63 on 18 May 2015 from Rs0.50 on 1 January 2014. This is a perfect example of a pump & dump operation. The company has over 17,000 individual shareholders; yet, the regulator does not seem to be concerned.