A client limit order to buy a Call option for $0.35 gets forwarded by the brokerage firm to the orderbook of the exchange as an order with a Bid of $0.30 instead of the $0.35. Every site shows the highest Bid as being $0.30. Is this not highly criminal? Should this be reported to the SEC or an other watchdog?
I've seen them do this, especially when I'm about to get mad profit on the trade. I figure the scam is just the cost of doing business. I check the order, it is transmitted but not acknowledged until (magically) price moves favorable and I can no longer get in. My guess is there are "preferred" market makers who get to decide if an order gets acknowledged. They want you to pay the full spread when they're about to get fucked. Just a guess.
How this is supposed to be front-running? Front-running would be if the broker sends an order before yours (but after seeing it) in order to get filled with your orders. If you send an order at .35 and the bid is still showing at .30, then there is something else going on.
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This is IMO even a VERY BIG FRAUD SCHEME! It works as follows: Broker replaces Client's order with its own order whereby changing the Bid to $0.30 from $0.35 (the original order never gets to the exchange!). If that new order then gets filled in the market, the broker "sells" it to the Client and makes a profit of the difference, ie. $0.05 ! The broker can never lose, it's a guaranteed profit for him, even more: when also the commission paid is considered... Client pays the commission AS WELL this kind of slippage fraud. Gangsters! I just wonder why none of these sleeping market watchdogs themselves catches such obvious fraud crimes committed by one of the biggest brokers in the industry...
I don't think IBKR does this, but I've seen it often enough to feel something is up. What that thing is, I don't know.
In general, options in high volume securities such as SPY, QQQ, and IWM, are quoted in penny increments regardless of the price. For others that trade below $3, the increment is $0.01 or $0.05 and for contracts above $3, the increment is $0.05 or $0.10 A market maker is not rigidly limited to five to 10 cent increments. The legs of a combo order such as a spread can be filled at any price even though the legs are quoted in 5 cent increments. Can you give the name of the underlying so that I can test this out. Your case sounds like fraud. We cannot let something as trivial as this stop the fair put advancement!!!