The specialist or market maker may daytrade,
arb or postion trade BBH. If he purchases the
BBH in size , he may sell a basket of stocks
that make up the BBH and lock in the difference
(arbitrage). The specialist or market maker may
see the order flow or know a floor broker is
holding a large order. This information can
be important if you are daytrading. Stock
specialists are usually well capitalized and may
be part of a large trading group.
Trading on the floor is not easy by any means.
A specialist must make a market during declining
markets or when there is no buyers or sellers and
can get hurt badly during these times.
Costs can be high for floor traders. A seat lease
on the AMEX can cost over $10,000 per month plus
other fees(to trade on an exchange floor you must
purchase or lease a "seat"-exchange membership).
Gene Weissman
Managing Member
Lieber & Weissman Sec., L.L.C.
gweissman@stocktrade.net
See my site at
http://www.electronicdaytrader.com