What is a financial manipulation?

Financial manipulation refers to the unethical or illegal practices used to distort a company's financial statements or economic performance for personal or corporate gain. This can include practices such as inflating revenues, hiding liabilities, or misrepresenting assets to mislead investors, regulators, or other stakeholders. Such manipulation undermines the integrity of financial markets and can lead to severe legal consequences for those involved. Ultimately, it erodes trust and can result in significant harm to investors and the broader economy.