MARKET MAKER

Brokerage house, dealer, or investment firm that accepts the market or systemic risk by taking possession of certain number of shares of a specific security to facilitate trading of that security. Every market maker is obliged to quote bid and offer prices continuously for a guaranteed number of shares. Once received, the market maker sells from its own stock or seeks an offsetting order immediately that takes place merely by seconds. Market makers are licensed by its exchanges and being charged lower than the usual dealing fees for their services in the market. Nasdaq is a good example of an operation of market makers.