We examine the role of limit-order traders and specialists in the market-ma
king process. We find that a large portion of posted bid-ask quotes origina
tes from the limit-order book without direct participation by specialists,
and that competition between traders and specialists has a significant impa
ct on the bid-ask spread. Specialists' spreads are widest at the open, narr
ow until late morning, and then level off. The U-shaped intraday pattern of
spreads largely reflects the intraday variation in spreads established by
limit-order traders. Lastly, the intraday variation in limit-order spreads
is significantly related to the intraday variation in limit-order placement
s and executions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.