Double Auction Market

Double auction market

Systems by which listed securities are bought and sold through brokers on the securities exchanges, as distinguished from the OTC market, where trades are negotiated. Unlike the conventional auction with one auctioneer and many buyers, double auction markets consist of many sellers and many buyers.

---

Auction Market

A security exchange in which buyers make bids and sellers make offers in order to make transactions in a security. On an auction market, the current price for a share in a security is the highest price a buyer is willing to pay and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept. For example, if potential buyers for Security A enter bids of $50, $51, and $52, and potential sellers enter offers of $52, $53, and $54, the current share price is $52. Only the bid/offer for $52 is executed; others must make better bids and offers in order to conduct transactions. The New York Stock Exchange is a major auction market.

---

double auction market

A market in which multiple buyers compete to purchase many items that are simultaneously offered for sale. Sales are made to buyers willing to offer the highest price by sellers who are willing to offer the lowest price. The New York Stock Exchange is an example of a double auction market.