Robinhood Financial

Overview

Robinhood Financial, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc. The U.S.-based company provides brokerage and related financial services.

Public Sphere

January 2021 customer trading restrictions

On January 28, 2021, Robinhood systems restricted customer trading in certain securities for companies with heightened volatility in their stocks such as Gamestop, AMC Entertainment, and Bed Bath and Beyond. CNBC noted that the brokerage IBKR had restricted trading on this trade date as well. CNBC also reported that other brokerages such as TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab increased margin requirements on the day prior, a move called less "drastic." Additionally, Robinhood published a blog post dated 2021-01-28 which notes increased margin requirements on certain securities.

Customers should be aware that brokers including Robinhood may take similar actions in the future, and that this poses a risk that they may incur economic harm as a result of being artificially impeded from entering orders.

References

https://robinhood.com/us/en/

https://newsroom.aboutrobinhood.com/keeping-customers-informed-through-market-volatility/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/robinhood-interactive-brokers-restrict-trading-in-gamestop-s.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/interactive-brokers-restricted-gamestop-trading-to-protect-the-market-says-chairman-peterffy.html