Definition of market maker
:an intermediary in a stock exchange who controls buy and sell orders (as by purchase and resale) for a particular stock or group of stocks
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market maker
noun
Updated on: 26 Jul 2017
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First Known Use of market maker
1962
Financial Definition of MARKET MAKER
market maker
What It Is
A market maker is a person or brokerage house that is always prepared to buy and sell securities in order to provide liquidity to the markets.
How It Works
By holding a disproportionately large number of a given security, a market maker is able to satisfy a high volume of market orders in a matter of seconds at competitive prices. If investors are selling, market makers are supposed to keep buying, and vice versa. They are supposed to take the opposite side of whatever trades are being conducted at any given point in time.
In this sense, market makers, as the name suggests, are able to satisfy the market demand for a security and facilitate its circulation. The Nasdaq, for example, relies on market makers within its network to ensure efficient trading.
Market makers profit through the market maker spread, not by betting on the direction of the security's price. They are supposed to buy or sell securities according to what kind of trades are being placed, not according to whether they think prices will go up or down.
Why It Matters
In contrast to conventional brokers, marker makers assume a high level of risk because of the high number of units they hold (their inventory). Market makers are entrusted with promoting market efficiency by keeping markets liquid. To ensure impartiality for the benefit of their clients, brokerage houses who act as market makers are legally required to separate their market making activities from their brokerage sales operations.
Source: Investing Answers
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