Robinhood and Other Brokerages Restrict Customers From Cashing In Profitable Put Options On Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank

Posted on March 16th, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Robinhood and Other Brokerages Restrict Customers From Cashing In Profitable Put Options  On Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Robinhood is restricting customers from cashing in on their bets against Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank even as put options appear to be in the money, according to several Robinhood customers on Twitter.

Put options generally permit investors to bet that the price of a stock will decline. If the stock price declines, then the investor may sell the stock at a higher price in comparison to current market value. Several Robinhood customers purchased put options on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank not long before each bank collapsed. According to some Robinhood users, the trading app is not permitting investors to sell their put options, and many of the option contracts expire on Friday. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev tweeted on Wednesday that the company was “working to resolve this ASAP”. Robinhood and other brokerages face challenges in permitting customers to sell their put options because the shares are no longer officially traded, which will create logistical issues. Furthermore, the put options have limited demand based on the economic state of each bank, while there exists a lack of downside remaining to capitalize on.

However, Robinhood is not alone. Several other brokerages, including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and E-Trade, likewise are restricting customers from selling their put options on each bank. The brokerages have noted that traders will likely be out of luck unless they possess the shares to satisfy the put contracts, or the shares begin trading again prior to expiration of the put contracts. Interactive Brokers has announced that the company will honor the put contracts on Friday so long as customers own the shares or have the capital to pay for borrowing the shares, and other brokerages may follow suit with this strategy. Nevertheless, Robinhood appears to be facing the most scrutiny based on the company’s alleged history of failing to meet investor demand. As Robinhood users continue to bombard the company on social media, prominent short-seller Marc Cohodes offered a piece of advice: call a lawyer.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters. 

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

April 25, 2024
B. Riley Financial Clears Air Amid Allegations, Stock Surges

Amidst swirling speculation regarding its connections with a client linked to the Prophecy Asset Management collapse, B. Riley Financial Inc. has conducted an internal
review, concluding no affiliations with the defunct hedge fund.

April 24, 2024
RIA Insurance Claims Skyrocket

A recent analysis by Golsan Scruggs reveals a staggering 231 percent increase in errors-and-omissions (E&O) liability claims among registered investment advisor (RIA)
insurers.

April 23, 2024
Surge Predicted in Regulation Best Interest Cases

According to a recent analysis, Reg BI-related actions quickly have ascended to the top five issues for FINRA, with fines totaling $6 million in 2023.