This is a continuation of my original thread in the general area a while back: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/105235
Apparently, the energy market is exploding like I originally predicted with selling prices breaking the 8000 mark. Buying prices are also constantly nudging the margin, so it looks like prices are going to continue to go up.
I'm not going to update this thread like I was before.
And your point is?
Why the hell is this even on Bazaar?
...because when it was in general, people claimed it belonged in the bazaar instead.
It's important to mention that this is due to price manipulations, not natural market shifts. There's more than a 2% margin, making buying/selling energy profitable (this does not happen on its own), and clear buy/sell walls set at 7822 and 8100 in the second image that you posted. To put the numbers into perspective, if that entire buywall is bought and the entire sellwall + buywall's ce is sold, ~209k cr will be made in profit even after the 2% market fee by the person who owns those walls.
Well the way I've seen it is the market regularly maintains 100 cr +2% margin so sellers are somewhat competitive in their pricing.
The problem is that 100 cr number isn't proportional. As prices go up, it's supposed to go up too. If it doesn't, then in effect, sellers are working for Three Rings. At the very least, the margin should be 4% so sellers earn as much as they're paying Three Rings to do business.
Strangely enough, because of the 100 cr flat price, it's actually better for sellers when the price is low. That way, they earn more crowns per crowns already invested.
The thing is new players want the price to go up so they make as many crowns as possible when entering the game. Also, previous investors want the price to go up so they can make crowns from regular inflation.
However, I agree that there's manipulation going on. A lot of people don't like it when price goes up for some reason even when the margin is slim. I guess it's because they just hate profit.
After all, this is a game that kids play, and kids tend to associate capitalism with the rugged individualism of their parents and fiscal responsibility of successful people who have to get paid so kids can do what they want. Wise guy brats want profiting to get screwed up.
Also, here's a picture of today's energy market: http://s25.postimg.org/da3k658dr/Energy_Market_Update.png
Clearly, demand is very thirsty, and supply is running dry.