Quote from propseeker:
how is it giving a false view of the stock, but the market maker quoting non competitive spreads isn't?
if you've spent any time in etfs after hours, or illiquid ones at any time, you've seen how market makers will try and make the widest spread possible. which is fine, good on them, they should be allowed to. however, if you want a fair competitive price to trade at, how exactly do you get one?
quoting mid or better will rarely get you hit when there's little trade interest, and will usually have the opposite effect of causing that contra-side mm to back away and widen even further. when the only way to trade is to pay the spread, i don't see how figuring out where the best price the mm is willing to quote should be illegal. as of now, the only way to do that is to walk up their quotes to find their best price. it's like an indicator of interest. if you didn't and paid the non-competitive spread, who exactly is manipulating who?