Who profits from the "bid-ask" spread?

Answer 1

Each stock has a specialist, whose job it is to be the "expert" in that company. Specialists trade with their own money and are there to help keep the market price "fair." Because they use their own money to invest, they profit from the spread, which is the difference between the bid and ask.

Answer 2

nobody

when you want to make a trade you pick a price
if someone else wants to trade with you at that price then the trade goes through.

if you put in a limit order to sell and your price is the cheapest, then someone putting in a market order to buy will trade with you.

if you look at the order book you will see
the highest price that anyone is willing to pay is the bid
the lowest price that anyone is willing to sell for is the ask

so you can put in a price and hope someone wants it, or do a market order and be guaranteed but maybe not at a price you want

good luck

Answer 3

The market maker. The spread is the only reason market makers make money.

Answer 4

For NYSE exchange traded stocks, the floor brokers.
For over-the-counter stocks, the market makers.
For options, the market makers.

Answer 5

Whoever sets the spread, wins!