Mast Therapeutics, Inc. (MSTX)

[gambinilive]

Somebody help me out here!

When all the stock at the ask has been bought up, the next highest ask price should be up next. But I have seen countless times, not only here but on a lot of pennies, they drop it down lower than the previous ask price. Sometimes I see the ask drop below the bid, then all hell breaks loose for a while until it settles. How cant that be illegal manipulation to hold down a stock? If people are buying and its moving up, how can they get away with not increasing the ask and lowering it down, and like I said, even below the bid. I know its called manipulation, but how can they consistently get away with it? Im not new to investing, but havent played with the pennies until about 6 months ago. TIA