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Specialist Unit

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Definition of 'Specialist Unit'

A group of firms or individuals that act as a market maker for one or many stocks trading on an exchange. A specialist unit maintains a stable market in a given security by acting as both a principal and agent for brokers. As a principal, a specialist unit will hold its own inventory of stock, in order to facilitate liquidity for a given trade.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Specialist Unit'

Specialist units are also responsible for posting relatively narrow bid-ask spreads to maintain liquidity, managing limit orders and large block orders. Additionally, a specialist unit will act as a form of balance in the market by taking the opposing side of bullish or bearish sentiment for a given stock by trading out of its own inventory.

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