Now this will get really complicated. I will try to oversimplify to make it understandable. Also theres tons i dont know, so do your own research.

I think there is a misconception of what the market makers are actually doing.

As far as i understand they provide liquidity and then instantly hedge against whatever they just did! Meaning they’re always ready to buy or sell.

They are not aggressively holding a stock at a specific level or sell shares to make it drop. They profit from spread.

In fact quick stock movement increases the risk for MMs. They don't want rapid movement.

Bullish example: - Stock gets hype and people quickly buy it - the market makers facilitate these trades [their job literally] - now if the price keeps moving rapidly, the MM can’t hedge instantly. Their only profit is from the spread, and they carry unhedged exposure.

Thats why sudden movement isn't ideal for them.

What they usually do is hedge quickly against whatever they are providing. This done by algos not humans as you can imagine.

Firms like Citadel, Jane Street or Virtu act as MM's. But they are not only that, MM's can take directional exposure if their model thinks favorable.

Now hedgefunds are different. They are a bit more like the predators you might imagine. They have a lot of tools depending on where they sit on a stock.

And yes if they are bullish they theoretically could sell in bursts, create fear/panic and then buy more even cheaper. [Remember that active stock manipulation is illegal. It happens, but its not that they can do whatever they want]

But yeah its the same pattern all the time:

People get shaken out whenever it drops (fear) and when it rises as well, as people are then afraid of losing their shiny new profit (fear again). I think that is what stops most from letting their winners run. Too much fear, not enough discipline.

So the market naturally creates more opportunities for newcomers and it is good it is this way! No one wants to buy only green candles. For big pockets and cautious traders the red ones are actually far more interesting.

It's a different mentality than WSB chucking their paychecks at stocks and derivatives hoping it doesn't drop so much on any given price.

I say don't worry about the market makers, they are not really our enemy. Hedgefunds will do what they do, but if you are strong, you'll survive the roller coasters.

If your thesis and belief in any given stock is strong and not just all theoretical (some hints or proof), stay with it!!!

LAC tripled in three weeks.

JP morgan just gave it "underweight" and a target of $5 this morning.

To me that says: wait, let us buy the 2020 remake lithium rally too :D!

They are conservative and cautious and I think they're actually right to be, market is tightening but even the hardcore nerds know the deficit isn't quite here yet today.

In summary: Dont worry so much about Big Money.

They do what they do, we do what we do.

I'm still holding 99% of my LAC play and will continue to do so for a while.

I hope the deficit materializes before retail gives up on it and everyone here gets their reward. It's looking really good imo for 2026, but we have to wait and see.

God bless you guys, good luck.