Quote from bjb1963:
So VERY VERY TRUE. I don't understand you people that want to get rid of the specialist. The specialist is VERY MUCH my FRIEND. I really don't get it.
Because some traders do not rely exclusively on the tape reading edge but exercise other strategies. If you are trading sector stocks which are dominated by hedge funds, the specialist is only a hinderance that cause trade speed delay and additional slippage. There is zero benefit from the specialist, he is only a maggot that has absolutely minimal affect on the stock price.
The efficiency argument is very flawed, the only big innefficiency created by the NYSE system is the slower moving quotes and delayed Open Book, the only reason so many daytraders are NYSE only traders. Nasdaq has much higher percentage moves, fast momentum, so why is it daytraders are so afraid of those opportunities. Nasdaq stocks, by far, have some of the most irrational price movements, need you all be reminded of BIDU? It's plain and simple, the computers are faster and better in the short time frames, it's not the inefficiencies created by the specialists. Those innefficiencies are created for the good ole boys club not the average daytrader.