Lesson

Insider trading is the illegal practice of trading securities based on non-public, material information about a company.

Practice Question #1

Which of the following is considered insider trading?

Options

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Terms

Insider trading:
The illegal practice of trading securities based on non-public, material information about a company.
Material information:
Information that a reasonable investor would consider important in making an investment decision.
Non-public information:
Information not disclosed to the general public.
Insider:
A person who has access to non-public, material information about a company due to their position or a close relationship with someone in the company.

Practice Question #2

Which of the following is considered insider trading?

Options

Select an option above to see an explanation here.

Historical Example

In the 1980s, a prominent investment banker was convicted of insider trading after using non-public information about upcoming mergers and acquisitions to make millions of dollars in profits. The case brought widespread attention to the issue of insider trading and led to increased enforcement efforts by regulators.

Practice Question #3

Which of the following individuals can be charged with insider trading?

Options

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Real-World Example

An employee of a pharmaceutical company learns that the company is about to announce positive results from a clinical trial of a new drug. The employee shares this information with a friend, who buys the company's stock before the news is made public. When the news is released, the stock price increases and the friend sells the shares for a profit. Both the employee and the friend could be charged with insider trading.

Practice Question #4

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More Detail

- *Insider Trading*: Insider trading refers to the buying or selling of a security by someone who has access to material, non-public information about the security. This practice is illegal and unethical, as it gives an unfair advantage to the insider and undermines the integrity of the financial markets.

Practice Question #5

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More Detail Examples

- *Insider Trading Scenario 1*: An executive at a publicly-traded company learns that their company is about to announce a major acquisition, which is expected to significantly increase its stock price. The executive buys company shares before the announcement, hoping to profit from the anticipated price increase. This is an example of illegal insider trading. - *Insider Trading Scenario 2*: An employee at a law firm working on a merger deal overhears a conversation about an upcoming merger between two publicly-traded companies. The employee buys shares in one of the companies before the merger is announced, hoping to profit from the anticipated price increase. This is also an example of illegal insider trading.

Pitfalls to Remember

- *Insider Trading Pitfall*:
Insider trading is not limited to company insiders, such as executives and employees. It can also include friends, family members, or business associates who receive material, non-public information from an insider and use it to trade securities. This is known as "tipping" and is also illegal.

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