jem -
(Simple description) TOPS is the CME order routing system. If your broker sends all of their orders through TOPS, then it will re-route the order to Globex if it's a Globex traded instrument or route it to the appropriate display device in the pit.
I beleve that IB simply sends your order to Globex directly if its a Globex traded instrument.
As far as "making a market" - if by that you mean that you want to post a buy order at the current bid (i.e., join the bid), you can do that. There's no "making a market" involved. Globex is an electronic match system that uses only limit orders. It simply matches sell orders at a price with buy orders at or better than the sell orders limit price.
If there's already 20 orders for a volume of 1000 contracts to buy at 1150 and you want to post your order to buy 10 contracts also at 1150, then you become order 21 in the queue and you can get filled when there's enough sell order volume priced at or above 1150 to match against.
Orders are processed first in, first out at the particular limit price level.
(Simple description) TOPS is the CME order routing system. If your broker sends all of their orders through TOPS, then it will re-route the order to Globex if it's a Globex traded instrument or route it to the appropriate display device in the pit.
I beleve that IB simply sends your order to Globex directly if its a Globex traded instrument.
As far as "making a market" - if by that you mean that you want to post a buy order at the current bid (i.e., join the bid), you can do that. There's no "making a market" involved. Globex is an electronic match system that uses only limit orders. It simply matches sell orders at a price with buy orders at or better than the sell orders limit price.
If there's already 20 orders for a volume of 1000 contracts to buy at 1150 and you want to post your order to buy 10 contracts also at 1150, then you become order 21 in the queue and you can get filled when there's enough sell order volume priced at or above 1150 to match against.
Orders are processed first in, first out at the particular limit price level.
