I have been keeping an eye on the market this week. It occurred to me that the last trap (dec 7th) was preceded by a large spread ($100+). I haven't seen such a spread since then and there have also been no traps since then. Are the traps usually preceded by large spreads? Is there some common wisdom as to what else can cause such spreads?
Spread as in the difference between exchanges?? Remember a few days ago when all the exchanges were in step with each other? That was a buy signal. As gox gets further from the pack the opportunity to perform profitable arbitrage emerges thus opening us up to a re-convergence of prices. Gox prices are high because its hard to withdrawal, and btce 's are low because its hard to deposit and hard to trust.
What I meant was the spread between the asks and the bids. Before the trap it suddenly grew out of proportions, the asks and bids became polarized. It was like a Mexican standoff before hell broke loose.