Originally posted by Vinny1
RTharp, you mention that a specialist will fill your buy order .70 less when he gaps it down that much, you also have to remember that in this situation the seller will also receive .70 less on the NYSE all at one price. If it was Nasdaq, the seller would have the opportunity to hit bids at higher prices before it traded immediately down .70 cents.In addition, I feel that trading Nasdaq is more advantageous than NYSE for the following reasons:
1)ability to follow and trade with the market maker who is the axe
2)faster fills
3)more volatility,hence more profit opportunity
4)Level 2 allowing you to see more than just the inside prices
I'm not disagreeing with you it is very possible to trade Nasdaq stocks and make a profit. I know quite a # of traders who do.
First though there are instant fills on the NYSE with NYSE+. I can always hit the bid/offer and get executed immeadiately to buy the offer/ or sell bid for up to 1099 shares.
I'd rather follow though the tape and follow one guy than follow an AXE who tends to try to hide himself.
There is volatility in NYSE too. Higher prices equal higher volatility. Traded IBM lately?
Level2 sometimes isn't very true. Most market makers put reserve orders out. So 1000 shares is really 100,000 shares.
The scene I was talking about doesn't happen on NASDAQ. Take a look at prints that are .50 away from the bid/ask with size. That was a huge block trade. Market makers will also take huge trades but very few will do it on the inside bid/ask. I'm not talking about 5000 shares . I'm referrring to 200,000 shares plus. I see it all the time on the NASDAQ market too when a fund needs to get out in a hurry they will get executed but away from theinside bid /ask. On NASDAQ a trader can't participate in that. On the NYSE I can.
Today is a great example. I was trying to sell a stock when the bid was 54.53 and the offer was 54.59 I offered 54.56 to get out of my 3000 shares. After I did a huge order came in for 80,000 shares and I was filled at 54.75. That was an extra $570 in my pocket due to price improvement and the rules a specialist can't trade in front of a customer.
Robert Tharp
