Its simple; the stock is being played at this hour. The volume as slowed and the MM are trying to keep the stock from running.
When you start seeing prints every few minutes at 100 shares at $.005 = $0.50 trade you start asking yourself. What's going on? Who trades $0.50 trades?
A print just went up at 500 shares or a whole $2.65.
Here is the play book that was handed to me when you see a stock not trading due to low volume and the MM are throwing large blocks (CSTI @ 946K on the ask)
LIST OF MARKET MAKER SIGNALS.
1. 100 - I need Shares. 2. 200 - I need Shares badly but do not take the stock down. 3. 300 - Take (or I am taking) the stock down at least 30% so I can load shares. 4. 400 - Keep trading it sideways. 5. 500 - Gap the stock. Gap can be up or down, depending on direction of 500 signal. 6. 505 - I am short on shares 7. 600 - Apply resistance at the ASK to keep the price from increasing. 8. 700 - Move the price up. 9. 777 - Also recognized as a signal to move the price up. 10. 800 - Prepare for an increase in trading volume. 11. 900 - Allow the stock to float and trade freely. 12. 911 - Pending News/Press Release On The Way 13. 1000 - Don't let it run 14. 2100- Let it run
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