Live dealing - This is the online dealing mechanism whereby you are connected directly to the stock exchange automated dealing system. The alternative is where your dealing instructions are emailed to a dealer who physically places the deal on your behalf. An individual who sets the price at which stocks can be bought and sold. Each stock listed on the London Stock Exchange must have at least two market makers. To get the mid price, add the offer price and the bid price together and divide by two.
Most newspapers print the mid price for shares.
When you are buying and selling shares, you will usually pay slightly more than the mid price. Similarly, when selling shares you will generally, receive slightly less than the mid price. NMS - Normal market size. The NMS tells you how many shares you can definitely buy or sell at the quoted price. You can buy or sell whatever quantity of shares you like and if you buy fewer than the NMS you will pay the quoted price.