Par value has everything to do with share value. MM's absolutely trade in small numbers to manipulate the price as they don't pay for a trade and want to risk very little at this point as all shares are now real if they have to cover fast on an incline. It's what they do when bottom testing shaking out what they can. Nobody was selling and there were no shares to pick up so the price went back up plain and simple.
It is not I who has a lack of understanding of the markets.