Chapter 04 · Section 4.1

Specialist vs. Order Book Official

Which of the following are differences between a Specialist ,in the Specialist System used on PHLX and AMEX, for instance, and an Order Book Official(OBO) in the Competing Market Maker System used on the CBOE)?

a) Specialists may trade for their own account; OBOs may not.
b) OBOs may trade for their own account; Specialists may not.
c) Specialists are exchange employees; OBOs are employed by a member firm.
d) OBOs are exchange employees; specialists are employed by a member firm.
e) Specialists are assigned specific option classes; OBOs are not.
• f) a and d
  Yes. OBOs are exchange employees, whereas specialists are independent or employed by a securities firm. It is therefore quite logical that OBOs cannot trade for themselves. Continue

(Click here for help)