Randomness!
There are some super smart guys on this forum who think they can predict coins like LTC due to actual facts. It's almost hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic. The truth is 90% of big moves are irrational and based on intangible human moods and whims.
I've made more money than most simply sticking my finger in the air and testing the mood, often being contrarian rather than following the crowd. But seriously logic is the last thing you want to follow.
it's true that there is no real logic behidn a pump, but not all of them are random, some of them have a meaning, otherwise why you don't invest casually and see the result? i'm sure you would lose everything lol
i invest based on the good news or bad news in bitcoin, and i do the same thing in altcoin, but other times i like to follow my gut feeling like you said in your post