Hi Pic,

I cannot help but believe that certain funds or "bucket shops" are all over ECU (and many others), having figured out over the past many months how to manage the price, knowing its mostly retail investors left who can be shaken out over time with declining prices. Every day, it seems, the pre-open bid-ask is always lower than the close of the day before. Why should that be unless someone is simply testing the water, etc? Price always seems to move up into the close as if to sucker newbies in for the next day's takedown.

Here's part of gwr's post the other day that shines more light on what I think is a daily occurence. These guys, IMO, are so typical of many modern-day guys who enjoy figuring out ways to exploit people and events for profit. There are simply too many of "them" and not enough, as yet, of "us."

"I now see that CIBC is playing games trying to block ECU from closing higher and showing a reversal. As has been suspected for many years they are one of the firms along with BMO/RBC that is used by a hedge fund trader who likes to box ECU into trading ranges to make money. TD trader likes to play along and so does the Etrade trader."