Underplot and Manipulation

• (n.) A clandestine scheme; a trick.
• (n.) A series of events in a play, proceeding collaterally with the main story, and subservient to it.

noun

• Exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage.
  • usage: "his manipulation of his friends was scandalous"
  • synonyms: use
• The action of touching with the hands (or the skillful use of the hands) or by the use of mechanical means.
  • synonyms: handling

• (n.) The use of the hands in mesmeric operations.
• (n.) Artful management; as, the manipulation of political bodies; sometimes, a management or treatment for purposes of deception or fraud.
• (n.) The act or process of manipulating or the state of being manipulated; the act of handling work by hand; use of the hands, in an artistic or skillful manner, in science or art.

Dealing in a security to create a false appearance of active trading, in order to bring in more traders. Illegal.