in 2008, trading volume in the Fort Worth company Teletouch Communications exploded, after a stock-picking robot supposedly identified the penny stock as poised to double in price, the Los Angeles Times reported. Over two days, trading volume went from an average of 2,300 shares a day to 593,900, and the stock price zoomed up from 13 cents a share to 45 cents. Turns out, though, that the robot, named Mari, was not really endowed with some special ability to pick stocks. Instead, twin teenage brothers in Britain were calling the shots, based on payments from stock promoters, according to the SEC. The federal agency is now suing the twins, Alexander and Thomas Hunter. On one occasion, the SEC says, Alexander Hunter purchased 22,000 shares of Teletouch Communications at 16 cents a share before touting the stock to investors. Fourteen minutes after sending out the picks, Hunter began selling his shares at up to 51 cents per share. The lawsuit does not implicate Teletouch, a wireless company that has more than 125 employees. - Lois Norder

