Citadel Securities denies involvement in 'meme stock' trading restrictions

FILE PHOTO: A GameStop store is seen in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. January 27, 2021. REUTERS/Nick Zieminski/File Photo

(Reuters) - Citadel Securities did not ask Robinhood or any other firm to restrict or limit trading on GameStop and other so-called "meme stocks" at the height of the retail-driven trading frenzy in January, the market-maker said on Tuesday.

Robinhood and several other brokers restricted trading in GameStop's shares on Jan. 28 following a stunning two-week rally driven by retail traders that sparked a "short squeeze", leading to billions of dollars in losses for Wall Street hedge funds.