Toni wrote:

- quote -

From the article;

"As dark pools take a larger share of the market, individual investors
may be losing out, critics say. For instance, a big sell order of 1
million shares might, to the chagrin of the seller, drive down the price
of stock XYZ if it hits the floor of the NYSE or the order book at the
Nasdaq. Defenders of the system say that's how the market should work.
In an automatic dark pool, that order might get filled without affecting
the price in the public markets."

It seems to me these pools create liquidity without the price shock that
a million share sell/buy order might make. As a shareholder, I'd prefer
that, that I don't find my stock just dropped 5% based on one sell order
and not due to anything fundamental within the company.

What did you read in the story suggesting the 'duck and cover' reaction?
JOE

what's the take home message for a small investor from the marketwatch article on dark
pools? (in the current online weekend edition)

move all my 401k funds into a moneymarket account and take cover?