I would suggest from my own perspective that if we are indeed in the handle of a cup and handle, we would see a consolidating day, that hangs around support, before retesting yesterdays highs.
What you consider artificial appears to me to be support where it should be expected, and fitting nicely with the proposed pattern. Accompanied by a small gap in the spread and appearing thin to the upside. Not at all what I would consider dumping.
My TA skills are novice, but the chartists who are on this board likewise seem pretty positive as well.
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