What happens if there are no buyers or sellers?

What Happens if There Are No Buyers or Sellers?

If your order is not filled, there may be no matching counterparty at your price. A buy needs a seller at your bid, and a sell needs a buyer at your ask. Until a match appears, the order stays pending.

Explanation

  • Order stays open in the book: Your order rests at the exchange at the price and quantity you set.
  • No execution without a match: Trades occur only when opposing orders cross on price and quantity.
  • Partials can happen: If there is some but not enough opposite side quantity, you may get a partial fill, with the remainder left open.
  • Validity controls behaviour:
    • DAY: Stays active until market close, then lapses if unfilled.
    • IOC: Fills whatever is available instantly and cancels the remainder.
    • GTT: Triggers when your condition is met. Once triggered, the resulting order follows its own validity.

How to improve fill probability?

  1. Check depth and spread: Review best bid, best ask, and available quantities.
  2. Nudge your limit price: Move closer to the opposite side in small increments to attract a match.
  3. Reduce or slice quantity: Smaller clips are easier to fill in thin markets.
  4. Use a marketable limit: Set a limit slightly above the current best price to balance speed and control.
  5. Avoid illiquid windows: Mid-session often has steadier liquidity than right at open or close.
  6. Reassess liquidity: Very wide spreads and low volume may warrant waiting or a different execution plan.
Use limit or marketable limit orders and check the order book depth to balance fill probability with price control.

What if...

ScenarioOutcome
I placed a sell order, but there are no buyersOrder remains pending and unexecuted until a buyer appears at your price.
I placed a buy order, but there are no sellersOrder remains pending and unexecuted until a seller appears at your price.
My DAY order reaches market closeAny unfilled quantity is cancelled automatically.
My GTT condition has not triggeredThe order is not placed yet and waits for the trigger.
I want to improve execution chancesModify price toward the market, reduce quantity, or use a marketable limit with care.

Last updated: 07 Nov 2025

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