A market maker takes both sides of the market, and makes money on the spread. IE, a market maker would have a standing order to buy 1000 shares of microsoft st

A market maker takes both sides of the market, and makes money on the spread. IE, a market maker would have a standing order to buy 1000 shares of microsoft stock for 29.99$ and then have a second standing order to sell it for 30.00$ at the same time. If the market is on average buying and selling randomly, the market maker makes .01$ for every pair of buy and sell trade. A speculator is someone who takes only 1 side of the market. IE, they buy 1000 microsoft shares, hoping that the price will increase, or sells 1000 shares hoping that the price will decrease.