Quote from makosgu:
Simple answer... YES, it can be done. The considerations to be made is how so...
There are two ways to do it ignoring "setup". The methodology would be either to LIMIT SELL at the ASK (ie. join the ASK SIZE queue) and LIMIT BUY at the BID (ie. join the BID SIZE queue), or go the market order route which is to MARKET BUY the ASK and then MARKET SELL at the BID + 2 tick and vice versa for SHORTS...
In the LIMIT ORDER approach, you have to be careful that both sides are being drawn from continually since when the market actually moves, you lock yourself into a losing position IMMEDIATELY and ALWAYS. In otherwords, as long as the BID/ASK spread doesn't change, this type of charade can be played assuming that you do not get caught with an open position once the pair move. Places where this may be some use to you experimenting is during the lunch time dullness where there is no volume to move the market. However, it is going to be generally tough to not see the BID/ASK pair change frequently (ie. every 30-60 seconds).
In the MARKET ORDER approach, you wind up in the boat with the majority of folks from scalpers right on up to swing/position folks. Unlike the LIMIT ORDER approach, the MARKET ORDER approach requires the market to move in order that you may close your position at a gain. The subtle part is that you need the BID/ASK pair to move 2 ticks in your direction. In other words, using the original example, when you MARKET BUY at the ASK, when the BID/ASK pair moves up 1 tick, the BID is NOW at the ASK from which you just opened a long position. Were you to sell now, you are at a +0 gain on your position but also with commission loss. Thus the market (ie. BID/ASK pair) must tick up an additional tick for you to realize a 1 tick gain (less comm)...
Net/net, in the first approach, you don't want the market to move. In the latter, the market has to move...
Regards...