I observed something today that confirmed my beliefs on how the specialist outright block traders from getting into stocks that are prepared to make a move.
While viewing the NYSE Open Book, the specialist routinely shows 1 (100 shares) on the size for the ask and then prints 30-40 cents up, I observed this 6 times today from 10-11am, I'm sure it happened more, but that's how many stocks I can look at the same time.
I was also observing several tech stocks on the Nasdaq and noticed no such thing, allowing traders to enter (although it was a fast moving market, the opportunity was still there to enter.
I can't wait till the specialist are gone from their role in the NYSE and make for a fairer playing field, hopefully this will happen when the Arch merger goes through.
While viewing the NYSE Open Book, the specialist routinely shows 1 (100 shares) on the size for the ask and then prints 30-40 cents up, I observed this 6 times today from 10-11am, I'm sure it happened more, but that's how many stocks I can look at the same time.
I was also observing several tech stocks on the Nasdaq and noticed no such thing, allowing traders to enter (although it was a fast moving market, the opportunity was still there to enter.
I can't wait till the specialist are gone from their role in the NYSE and make for a fairer playing field, hopefully this will happen when the Arch merger goes through.