What is insider trading?

Insider trading refers specifically to the buying or selling of a security based on material, nonpublic information about the company. This activity is significant because it involves confidential or unpublished information that can give an unfair advantage to an individual who is privy to it, potentially undermining the integrity of the financial markets.

Legitimate trading occurs in an open market where all participants have equal access to information. In contrast, insider trading exploits this imbalance, often leading to legal consequences for the individuals involved and jeopardizing public trust in the market. Regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) closely monitor and enforce regulations against such activities to promote a fair trading environment for all investors.

The other choices, while related to the financial market, do not accurately describe insider trading. Portfolio diversification is a risk management strategy that involves mixing a wide variety of investments to minimize risk. Increasing liquidity refers to how quickly an asset can be bought or sold in the market without affecting its price. Manipulating stock prices, while also illegal, involves tactics designed to artificially inflate or deflate stock prices, rather than the private use of material information that insider trading entails.