Is getting filled on the opening or close auction inherently superior to other times?

[Daal]

In theory you are not paying the bid ask spread since buyers and sellers are agreeing at a single price. Of course, this assumes the specialist(for NYSE stocks) is not taking a few cents off your pocket, but it should be random whether this will hurt you or benefit you since sometimes you will be on his side

Thoughts?

 

[murray t turtle]

Well Mr Daal in a downtrending bear market;
open price isnt likely to be the best@all

Nor is the opening price in a bull market likely to be the best;
but more likely than in a bear market.But again ,there are plenty of exceptions

Of course in the unlikely even of a huge gap [like earnings against the trader/investor, an open sale could be wise.

Bright Trading Co may differ

AMR, DAL,LUV open price after SEPT 11/11 was best cover if short;
long daytrade[long trade to open], again open price wasnt best at all[unless you count 20/20 hindsight, i dont count it on that trade.]...Because they easily could go down much more.

 

[eusdaiki]

The open/closing auction are specially useful if you are an institution and you need to execute very large blocks of stock.