Quote from spindr0:
They're like the Pony Express - bids and asks can be miles apart![]()
Exactly - and that is the point.
Bid/ask spread is small during regular hours because of market-makers and high volume; MM always buy (at BID) and sell (at ASK) and provide liquidity to the market (and make small spread). This spread is usually a cent or two for any liquid stock and it is tough to find a middle ground. So we mostly transact with MM (or matching bid/ask from other individuals) and always lose on spread & slippage.
During extended-market hour bid/ask are miles apart. So we can easily find a price somewhere middle of the bid-ask GAP and use that on both order. Sell to yourself - no slippage, no spread loss.
If bid is 10.14 and ask is 10.24 ; you put limit sell @ 10.19 and limit buy @ 10.20 and both order will execute at same price (either 10.19 or 10.20) - WHAT IS THE CONFUSION?
Just avoid trading around 8:30 announcements.
Hope it explains.
