The speculation I've seen is the sale date of the CEO's shares was predetermined some time ago. The CEO just timed his comments to influence the share price just before the shares were scheduled for sale.
It stinks, but probably not breaking any laws.
The narrow result is awful for the country, it would have been better for it to have been a blow out one way or the other. Phin is right, this election has done nothing to close the divide. If anything, it will make it worse.