The SEC suspends trading in 15 stocks because of suspicious activity and social-media chatter

• The SEC suspended trading in 15 companies on Friday, citing suspicious activity and social-media chatter.
• The suspension is part of the agency's ongoing effort to prevent attempts to exploit investors, especially amid market volatility.
• The agency under federal law can suspend trading in a stock for 10 days.
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday suspended trading in 15 companies because of "questionable trading and social media activity" as part of the agency's ongoing effort to prevent attempts to exploit investors, especially amid market volatility.

"Today's action follows the recent suspensions of the securities of numerous other issuers, many of which may also have been targets of apparent social media attempts to artificially inflate their stock price," the official release said.

According to the order, none of the companies has filed any information with the SEC or OTC Markets for over a year.

The agency suspended the following issuers:

• Bebida Beverage Co. (BBDA)
• Blue Sphere Corporation (BLSP)
• Ehouse Global Inc. (EHOS)
• Eventure Interactive Inc. (EVTI)
• Eyes on the Go Inc. (AXCG)
• Green Energy Enterprises Inc. (GYOG)
• Helix Wind Corp. (HLXW)
• International Power Group Ltd. (IPWG)
• Marani Brands Inc. (MRIB)
• MediaTechnics Corp. (MEDT)
• Net Talk.com Inc. (NTLK)
• Patten Energy Solutions Group Inc. (PTTN)
• PTA Holdings Inc. (PTAH)
• Universal Apparel & Textile Company (DKGR)
• Wisdom Homes of America Inc. (WOFA).

The SEC recently issued orders temporarily suspending trading in the following:

• Bangi Inc. (BNGI)
• Sylios Corp. (UNGS)
• Marathon Group Corp. (PDPR)
• Affinity Beverage Group Inc. (ABVG)
• All Grade Mining Inc. (HYII)
• SpectraScience Inc. (SCIE).

The agency, under federal law, can suspend trading in a stock for 10 days. The SEC can also prohibit a broker-dealer from soliciting investors to trade again unless requirements are met.