> most individuals buy stocks in very small blocks, > usually less than the minimum increment size that shares > trade at on the open exchanges There is no m

> most individuals buy stocks in very small blocks, > usually less than the minimum increment size that shares > trade at on the open exchanges There is no minimum increment size. You can trade a single share at NASDAQ, BATS, ARCA, wherever. 100 shares orders are very common, and that is lower than the size of most retail orders. 100 shares at $20 is only $2k.