Auction markets

Auction markets

Markets in which the prevailing price is determined through the free interaction of prospective buyers and sellers, as on the floor of the stock exchange.

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.