A thought.Now I know that all of the large traders are 100% ethical people who never would consider manipulation of a stock price. But lets examine the following scenario.
1. Trader A, B and C happen to know each other. They also happen to know company A needs money (almost all companies need money right now). They like company A and have some shares, but really want some free warrants, and the ability to buy in at market price without moving the market. This is the main irony of the stock market is that your observations often fail when you hit the market with your order (ie just because the last price was 10 cents doesn't mean there are any shares to buy at 10 cents).
2. So Trader A winks and nods at his buddies, and starts to sell, to trader B, who in turn sells to trader C, causing a large drop in price on an iilliquid stock. Three things can happen. Weak hands can generate real selling which increases the position of our ethical crew, The stock price can go down making a private placement more enjoyable at a lower price, or there can be a real buyer who holds the price steady. Interestingly we are all trained to recognize this case and buyers tend to drop their bid smelling blood, human nature I guess.
3. So 2 out of 3 possibilities in favor with the real buyer being a minor risk, more than offset the cost of a little selling in this case. Now I am not saying that this is happening with PEH, as I know of the high ethics of everyone involved in illiquid venture stocks in China but I do wonder if is happening to great many other stocks with thin order boards in both directions.
4. The main thing, for me at least, is that regardless of these games, and the seemingly intransigent nature of the TSX.V, the asks are very, very, thin right now. The predators are in cash, and their greedy natures are a little worried by the prospect of the first lift off of 15 year lows, which will likely come violently as the smart money makes a tree that the fierce yet brief winds of manipulation can't shake. At that point, when the capitulation comes, it is going to be good.
5. I have no idea when the capitulation is coming.... In the meantime I am confident it will be in my lifetime! Good luck to all.
PS. The capitulation may have already come and we are just bottom fishing on pure manipulation currently, with low volumes, and nowhere to go but up.