RE: RE: Amati24 Jul 2019 09:01
V111JAS,
Block energy trades via setsqx and which has an order book and a quote book, as sometimes it needs market maker quotes to maintain levels of trading.
This system allows investors to compete with market makers and take part in the auctions each day.
One thing to note about setsqx, there is no maximum spread, as is the case with sets, so you see the price jump around a lot more. Quite often, when you try to sell, the price offered is below the quoted price due to the wide spread.
The market makers seem to be ahead of the rest, not because of inside info, but because, in general they make the market and set the prices, you generally take them.
You can set your own price if you want, however, if it is too far away from the actual bid/offer then you won't get a fill in any of the auctions and you will be disclosing your intention to the market makers, who will be positioning accordingly, based on the order book they see.
One primary focus of the market maker is to fill the order from bigger clients. If they cannot fill, then the client goes elsewhere and they lose credibility in the market maker space. They will fill an order and then go searching in the market for the stock, if they haven't enough on hand - hence tree shakes etc.
They always intend to be holding as little of the stock as possible, although will maintain a "float" and ensure that at the end of the day, their book is squared.