Quote from Don Bright:
What you may not realize is that they have live orders, with much higher limits that they hold for outside traders and firms. More often than not they are buying stock for a trader that he has the fiduciary responsibility for. I saw this exact thing happen a few times on my last visit. If this specialist had your order to buy 20,000 shares of an illiquid stock, with instructions to not pay over 60.25, and the stock is trading around 60.05-60.12 range, he may serve you, the customer better by giving price improvement to both sides.
I also saw "crossing" going on (just like my "old day" on the floor). It went like this. Broker comes in, asks for the market. He's told .02 bid .04 offer....broker says, I have 5,000 to go at .03, and I have 5,000 to buy at .03..."I cross 5,000 at .03" .. thus price improvement, between the market...everyone is happy, and the specialist did not "jump in" at all.
You might only see the 5,000 shares go by, and wonder if you're getting a bad deal or something....but you're not.
This is why I want to help educate people a bit more about how things really work, not just how things "appear" based on the electronic boards.
The NYSe has not done a very good job in showing people the intricacies of the whole system....and this may be cause for some mis-understandings among the traders in the Community.
Thanks for the input, and keep the questions coming...I really think that the more people know, the better they will feel about the "system." And, yes, I admit to the "bad apples" as mentioned on prior posts.
Don
Quote from Tea:
Don, one would assume that the specialists are going to be on their best behavior when an outside visitor is watching them.
Its what they do when no one is watching that is of concern.
Quote from hayman:
Don,
I believe what you say. There's a lot that goes on that we are not aware of, sitting in our offices. In your cited example, I would expect the NYSE to post both of these orders on the books, which rarely, if ever, occurs. The fact that NYSE OB is on a 5-second delay (this is another joke, and pet peeve of mine), does not help this visibility issue.
Ask them why the 5 sec delay, BTW. No excuse in today's technology-laden world.
Regards,
Doug
Quote from Don Bright:
Valid point, of course. He did go out of his way to show me the "tracking system" that has recently been added to follow all the "principal" (specialist) orders vs. the "agency" (customer) orders.
He certainly expressed his concern about the "automated orders" and their constant input/cancels, and other major problems from their end. I explained that we only use the the type of order that cancels and replaces every 5 minutes, to save Specialist fees (he smiled and said that he "appreciates the help with the liquidity, and can get along with the fees sometimes" ..with a smile.
I know that I'm being painted as a cheerleader for the "system" and maybe even rightfully so...but maybe, just maybe, the more one understands or sees this system in action, others may feel the same way.
Don
Quote from hayman:
"Price Improvement" is a direct manipulation of the natural laws of supply and demand of the marketplace
Quote from hayman:
OK, Don, I'm impressed. You have your own radio show ? What station (& state) ? Would love to hear you, and I might even call in someday......
Regards,
Doug