General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Someone got tipped off on Donald Trumps 90 day pause on tariffs. [View all]Celerity
(53,320 posts)Electronic Communication Network
https://lightspeed.com/active-trading-blog/what-is-an-electronic-communication-network-ecn
snip
An ECN is a computerized trading system that matches buy and sell orders for securities. ECNs allow traders to trade directly with each other, without the need for a middleman such as a broker or market maker. ECNs operate in a decentralized manner, meaning that there is no central exchange or trading floor.
Key features of ECNs include anonymity, transparency, and automatic order matching. Traders can enter orders into the ECN, which are matched with orders from other participants based on price and quantity. Once a trade is executed, the ECN automatically updates the order book and reports the trade to the relevant regulatory authorities.
Participants in the ECN:
ECNs have a wide range of participants, including retail investors, institutional investors, brokers, and market makers. Retail investors use ECNs to access a wider range of securities and to trade at lower costs than traditional brokers. Institutional investors use ECNs for their speed and efficiency, as well as their ability to execute large trades.
Brokers and market makers also use ECNs to execute trades on behalf of their clients. Market makers provide liquidity to the ECN by posting buy and sell orders for securities. In return, they receive a small fee for each trade they execute.
snip