Quote-driven markets are the most commonly used execution systems for markets such as bonds, currencies and commodities. They are referred to as a dealers market because each trade is executed through a dealer. The dealers, working with investment banks, commercial banks, and broker-dealers, provide quotes for different instruments and all customers need to trade through them at the quoted prices. It’s also referred to as a dealer or price-driven market. The following are some of the key points about the quote-driven market.

• The traders can either accept the prices quoted by the dealers or thy can even negotiate prices with them, either themselves or through their broker or agent.
• In a pure quote-driven market, all traders must trade only through a dealer however dealers can trade among themselves with the help of inter-dealer brokers.
• Dealers supply all the liquidity in the market.
• There are some dealers markets where traders can trade directly with each other. However such a market is not a pure quotes-driven market. For example, Nasdaq Stock Market is a quotes-driven market in which even trades are brokered directly between traders.
• The traders build relationship with dealers and choose who they want to trade with based on the prices and quality of service offered.
• Dealers may choose not to execute a trade for a specific client.
• Many dealers specialize in what kind of clients they service such as retail or institutional.
• Examples of quotes-driven market include: Nasdaq Stock Market, London Stock Exchange, and eSpeed government bond trading system.
• In these markets trades are conducted through inhouse digital communication systems, telephone or even though instant messaging.