Stupid question about bid and ask.

Discussion in 'Trading' started by dylan57, Dec 3, 2008.

  1. dylan57

    dylan57

    When you see something like this

    Bid Size Ask Size
    100 1000

    Are there more buyers than sellers or vice versa? The reason I ask is because when most people sell a stock, they sell at the bid. But market makers sell at the ask. What are the sizes showing? Is the 1000 shares at the ask market makers trying to sell or a trader buying?

    Also is are the sizes shown on level II in the hundreds (200 is really 20000) ?