“Every spike is a manipulation.” It’s a belief often born from frustration — the feeling that markets move violently just to take you out. But while some spikes are indeed driven by liquidity grabs or stop hunts, the truth is that not every sharp move is market manipulation. Many spikes are legitimate reactions to news, order flow, or volatility imbalances. Let’s explore why spikes are part of market structure — not always traps — and how to trade through them with clarity instead of fear.

What causes price spikes?

Spikes can occur due to:

• Economic data releases (e.g. NFP, CPI, interest rate decisions)
• Sudden liquidity gaps (thin volume zones, session opens)
• Institutional order execution (block trades, rebalancing)
• Geopolitical headlines
• Algorithmic reactions to price levels

These are natural events in a live, global market — not coordinated attacks on your position.

Yes, stop hunts exist — but not always maliciously

Large players may trigger stops to:

• Fill orders at better prices
• Generate liquidity in dry zones
• Test conviction at key levels

But this isn’t personal. It’s not manipulation in the emotional sense — it’s mechanics. They’re hunting liquidity — not targeting you.

Not every spike is “engineered”

Viewing every spike as manipulation can lead to:

• Paranoia about setups
• Hesitation to take valid trades
• Exiting too early out of fear
• Blaming the market instead of improving execution

It removes accountability and damages your edge.

Spikes are often tradeable — with the right preparation

Professional traders:

• Expect volatility during key events
• Use wider stops when appropriate
• Avoid entering around major scheduled news
• Read spikes in context: continuation or rejection
• Track how price behaves after the spike

Spikes become setups — not threats — when you plan around them.

The real manipulation is your emotional reaction

When you believe every spike is unfair, you may:

• Avoid trades after being stopped out
• Revenge trade to reclaim control
• Abandon your system in search of perfection

But perfection doesn’t exist — and true control comes from process, not paranoia.

Conclusion: Is every spike a manipulation?

No — most spikes are natural reactions to order flow, volatility, or news. Some are liquidity events, but that’s part of market structure — not sabotage. Your job is not to avoid spikes — it’s to understand, manage, and trade them intelligently.

Learn how to read spikes in context and protect your edge with our structured Trading Courses, built to help you execute calmly — even when the market moves fast.