I dislike the call of manipulation every time the stock is down. I dislike it it a lot less when the price is manipulated upward! Sometimes a down day is just profit taking or risk mitigation. Today, though, did have the flavor of some warrant holders at work.

RTV is right, the same sort of thing goes on on the NAS, but it would be nicer if it were between $4.50 and $5.00 that this crapx occurred.  

Today's strong early buying was likely a bunch of retirement money. That is typical and was advertised here over the last few weeks as a "coming attraction."  Perfect for someone lying in wait! Perfectly rational strategy.  

And don't kid yourselves, the trading is done by longs on this board, too. The pattern has been established over a very long time. Why stop until the pattern fails?