The future role of the specialist

The specialist trades in circumstances when others do not or will not, and therefore takes on a risk which warrants compensation. The current debate centers on the model of compensation. The specialist at the Paris Bourse is compensated in cash and with investment banking business. In contrast, the NYSE specialist is compensated in the form of privileged information on order flow. In recent months, several U.S. institutions have alleged that the NYSE trading abuses is an outcome of this compensation structure. The Paris model overcomes this criticism and presents an alternative for the NYSE to consider. Results show, however, that there continues to be a role for the specialist (or, at least, an 'upstairs trader') in electronic markets. Investors value the presence of a specialist because they can get in and out of a stock with greater ease.