actually, i have to disagree as…
…
retail is often that 5th dec deal. i have, many times, put in an order for the ask and the mm’s or stock gods, whoever, would give it to me just below, not letting me hit the ask and those numbers are the odd ones or show up (on ihubs L2) as a black number, vs green or red (meaning bid or ask side). and if you look on the ihub charts, that volume line is green (vs blue or red).. does that make sense?
that can mean that someone put in for the ask but it was given to them between the bid and ask, below the ask.