"We must deal with the hedge funds whose unethical conduct directly led to the recent market volatility and we must examine the market in general and how it has been manipulated by hedge funds and their financial partners to benefit themselves while others pay the price," Waters, a Democrat, said, adding the hearing will focus on "short selling, online trading platforms, gamification and their systemic impact on our capital markets and retail investors."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)