This sort of exists. It's not evil or secret though (funds can't make the large $ amount sized trades they need to do and keep it secret). Also while some funds do employ a type of 'regulatory risk arbitrage' it's usually part of a larger strategy, e.g. event-driven funds, which are slightly more sophisticated and a few miles ahead of what Tom Clancy could come up with. For example lobbyists and legal data would be relevant to the analysis as they may be forward indicators. 'Truth can be stranger than fiction'...