Just wondering.  Is there any good reason?

Example. Today down from 37.15 closing to 36.45.   Previous three or
four trading days the same story.   What is going on?   It's like the
market determines a price during trading, and then it is simply
adjusted afterwards.  And not just a little. Big time.

As we approach earnings, the stock is expected to have a run up - but
there will be profit takers along the way which will force the stock
down, generally after hours. This, of course, creates another buying
opportunity and chance for a greater increase the next day - all about
making money but frustrating for longs which want to see a steady
increase. The key is to determine how much the stock can run before
people will take profits and then sell before the end of the day when
that point is reached. This is the way volitile stocks work.

dimi... Interesting point of view. Don't you need a crystal ball to
work the market?   If you would know ahead of time that the stock will
generally be going up or generally going down, you'd know when to sell
and when to buy.  Like, today, for example.  There have been some ups
inbetween the general down trend.  So: You would buy right now,
because you think "volatility" will send the shares up 20 or 30 cents
in the next half-hour?  How do you know it's not going to dive some
more in the next leg?  Do you spend $100 a day on trading commission
fees?

You must realize that STP is a Chinese stock and follows the Chinese
economy. Right now the government is artificially inflating their
economy in preperation for the Olympics.  For them its all about
saving face.  The fundamentals are solid for this company but you have
to deal with the herd mentality.

That's not what I was asking, guys.

The past four or five trading days STP has closed at a certain price,
only to see that price MUCH lower later on (not even sure if it's
after hours or some sort of midnight adjustment), in a range that has
no relationship to the trading range during the day.  That last part
is the crazy element.

The previous manipulation, that stopped last Monday when the SEC
started warning about illegal naked shorting (see
http://www.basherbusters.com/information?information_id=551  for
details on this illegal practice) was characterized by a longstanding
pattern of steep drops and gradual rises.  No sooner has that stopped,
or we get these absurd price adjustments.

I'd just like to know where they're coming from.

When the stock rises 5 percent or so in a day, you have to expect that
profits will be taken afterwards (there is trading going on after
hours). You don't have to buy or sell during the day...if you have
good run up, expect a sell off. When the stock sits a 32 and then runs
to 37 and then crests, time to sell. Profits will be taken. Pigs get
slaughtered. It costs me $22 to make $1000, pretty good deal. If you
are long, then don't worry about the fluctuations. If you are trading,
learn the behavior of the particular stock you are working with and
you can make some money. As this stock tests new resistance levels as
we approach earnings, be prepared to buy and sell accordingly.
Remember, stocks don't move up in a straight line, they take 2 steps
forward, one step back. And if there is a great run-up before
earnings, then sell before earnings. Let the stock teach you so you
won't be upset when the stock does not behave the way you expect.
People who make money learn and adjust.

I don't think what is going on falls under the basics you describe.
Stock closed at 35.25 today, and just fifteen minutes after hours has
dropped to 34.38.  Again. I'm afraid my picture of the market is
considerably darker than yours.

Mind you, the drop in the oil price coincided with the Fed asking more
legal power from Congress... What if it was ALL about that?

The last Fed Chairman came in, we had the October 87 crash, which
resulted in the Plunge Protection Team (introduced as a way to keep
the market from plunging, but really a way to provide a safety net
that could, quite naturally, be withdrawn as well....)

There is no more corrupt game in town than that of the money
changers.  And the People must know what is going on.

Read this, if you want to know who/what controls the flows:
http://www.erichufschmid.net/TFC/History-of-Bankers.htm

Don't worry about those after-hours adjustments.  I've seen them, but
note that they don't correlate at all with the opening price the next
day.  Furthermore, look at the volume, it's usually microscopic,
usually just a few hundred or a few thousand shares.  The reason the
stock is down generally is because the sector is down, because people
don't want to buy speculative growth stocks when the market is in a
recession.  Personally, I think STP is a good value (fairly unique in
the sector), and a bargain at these prices if you are planning on
holding for a year or more.  As for where it is going to be in a week,
if I knew that I'd be rich.