Seth, if I were a local today, ET is not where I would be at nite. I was a local in the spoo pit in the late 80's. And when we quit, that was it for the day.
Other guys, listening to the broadcaster is easy if you have an idea what he is saying first. Then, like lip reading, you can figure it out very quickly.
Hopefully this will help:
Let's say the price is 861.90 bid/ ask or at 862.00
In the loud chicagoland voice the broadcaster will say "861.90 bid, at 862 even. Then he will continue with 90 bid at even, 90 bid at even, 861.90 bid at 862 even, now at 10, 862 even bid at 10, even bid at 10 even bid at 10, locals chop, even bid at 10, even bid at...{pit noise increases} now 20, at 20, 10 bid at 20, 10 bid at 20, 862.10 bid at 20, Refco's buying, {pit gets loud} now Merrill, Merrill's got a 50 lot, 10 bid at 20, 10 bid at 20, now at 30, Merrill still buying, 862.20 bid at 30, 20 bid at 30, Solly's selling a 20 lot, 20 bid at 30 , 20 bid at 30, Lewis is in, Lewis is selling, 10bid at 20, now even, even bid, 862 even, now 90, 861.90 at even, now at 90, now at 80, 861.70 bid at 80....
man that gives me goose bumps just typing it and reading it. Read it faster and faster, hear the voice in your head.
Fifty is "a half" ie., 40 bid at a half. 40 at a half, now 30, 30 bid at 40, now at a half, 30 at a half now 40 bid, 40 at a half
You read this a few times and listen tomorrow and you will have a great time.
