From Hemscott Market view email 20/10/05:
Share trading.
Welcome news from the London Stock Exchange that affects all investors who trade in smaller companies. Trading in shares of all companies listed on the exchange is to be shifted onto the electronic order book instead of being handled by market makers.
Electronic trading in the 200 largest of the Small Cap stocks since July has reduced trading cost by up to 30%, cut the spread between buying and selling prices by a third, and increased trading volumes. The next 100, plus the components of the AIM 50 index, will be transferred on December 5th.
The more illiquid the stock, the more important it is to have electronic trading where prices are more transparent. Let us hope that the remaining stocks will soon follow.
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Seems like 5/12(?) or only a matter of time before Emerald is taken out of the grasp of the MM's. Their manipulation of the sp yesterday (19/10) was something to behold!