I imagine I'm not the only one checking in on the bid/ask at least every now and again.....and sometimes I'll notice something like this.  The last trade is at $1.40 and the bid/ask is at...we'll say $1.39/$1.40

Then it jumps, the bid ask $1.42/$1.43 with the last trade at $1.40....its not much, and I start thinking, "Okay...maybe, just maybe this might be the start of something".  Heck, if someone sells I'll think....if someone dumps some shares the PPS is going to move up, maybe we can get some + movement.

Then what happens?  The next trade goes through at $1.39 and the PPS, instead of climbing from $1.40 drops to $1.39....ugh.

But my cynical nature has me wondering whether this is just fun and games intended to demoralize "moron longs" (to use Jim Cramer's term).  

Maybe its a little manipulation...maybe it is just what it appears to be, random trading.