Hedgies use algos ALL the time to influence the price of a stock.
Hard for the regulators to prove until they change the rules compelling them to report their shorts.
Currently, prime brokers sign over their right to stock they own to the hedgies with an agreement to replace within a year. These are OTC contracts and outside the regulators reach.
If we are to have a level playing field, these quasi shorts MUST report to the regulator. Until then they continue to play havoc with the asx.
Rant over