Asia stock markets feel ripples of 'GameStop' frenzy

From Malaysia to Hong Kong, retail investors have taken aim at short sellers

20210128 GameStop store

Retail investors bid up GameStop, squeezing short positions in the video game seller. © Getty Images

JADA NAGUMO and NARAYANAN SOMASUNDARAM, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/HONG KONG -- The stock market frenzy surrounding U.S. video game retailer GameStop has spilled into Asia, with shorted stocks mirroring the surge on Wall Street and some brokerages restricting trades.

Retail investors in the Asia-Pacific region from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur are drawing inspiration from the GameStop rally to bid up stocks that hedge funds are betting will slump. While not on the scale of Wall Street, amateur investors are mimicking their U.S. peers, opening discussion boards on Reddit to synchronize market moves.

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