Market Maker
Market makers are players in the stockmarket who trade as principals and may actively try to encourage/discourage trading by changing the prices they quote to tempt buyers and sellers into the market.
In October 1997, the London Stock Exchange introduced order driven share dealing for shares in the FTSE-100 index.
For shares outside the FTSE-100, the London Stock Exchange continues to operate a system of competing market markers all of whom are obliged to make a continuous two-way price, that is, to offer to buy and sell securities throughout the mandatory quote period.