The other thing that nobody has been able to explain to me is why the hedge funds don't just sell their holdings to a separate corporation and just let that corporation go bankrupt? That's the whole reason limited liability corporations exist, --right? -- to limit losses.
No, that would not work.
You don't get physical shares when you short. It's just an accounting entry at a brokerage firm.
You owe the shares. Borrow 100 shares and you have to pay back with 100 shares.
You can't just "move" the account to a corporation. The broker would still hold you responsible if there is a margin call that exceeds the value of the account.
If your idea would work, just buy a house, get a mortage, "move" the mortgage to a corporation, bankrupt the corporation, and ... abracadabra!
No, that would not work.
You don't get physical shares when you short. It's just an accounting entry at a brokerage firm.
You owe the shares. Borrow 100 shares and you have to pay back with 100 shares.
You can't just "move" the account to a corporation. The broker would still hold you responsible if there is a margin call that exceeds the value of the account.
If your idea would work, just buy a house, get a mortage, "move" the mortgage to a corporation, bankrupt the corporation, and ... abracadabra!
But it won't work. :-(