My pure speculation theory, based in no market reality other than human nature: I suspect human beings like things in "nice packages" including valuations.
I feel that the hover at 5.xx was nothing more than wanting to value the BTC at a fair & solid constant. High stability around values divisible by 5 and 2. After a few more weeks of cycling, I suspect we'll sit at $8 for a while before hitting $10.
Now that I have predicted this, it will never happen.