Is autonymous electronic trading influencing the direction of asset prices?

Unfortunately in an age of anonymous electronic trading, market participants can increasingly create misleading signals by influencing the direction of asset prices. By way of example, during the first 16 days of the month, the oil priced methodically declined by 20%. All oil exporting nations saw their currencies decline and credit risk metrics inflate. Interestingly, oil importing nations were being priced as if they were heading into a growth void thus completing the ideal fear loop. Unsurprisingly, when China devalued their currency, there were suggestions that another Asian crises was emerging and all markets moved sharply lower. Incredibly, the oil price has rebounded 25% in just 3 days. The oil price is currently displaying remarkably similar traits to the LIBOR outcomes of 2011. Interestingly, whilst exchange traded asset prices fluctuate widely, regulators globally are expanding their investigations into market manipulation.