painting the tape

1. Illegal trading of a security by manipulators among themselves in order to create the illusion of heavy trading activity, perhaps the kind generated by insiders. The increased trades are then reported on the consolidated tape, a situation that often lures unwary investors into the action. Once the market price of the security escalates, the manipulators will sell out, hoping to make a profit.
2. Breaking down larger orders into more numerous smaller orders to have more trades appear on the tape and thereby attract investor interest.