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The electronic evolution of corporate bond dealers

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  • O'Hara, Maureen
  • Alex Zhou, Xing

Abstract

Technology transformed the trading of financial assets but has been slower to come to corporate bond trading. Combining proprietary data from MarketAxess with regulatory TRACE data, we investigate how electronic request for quote (RFQ) trading affects bond dealers and trading more generally. We demonstrate that electronic trading remains fairly small and segmented, but has wide-ranging effects on transaction costs and execution quality in both electronic and voice trading, and the interdealer market. We identify features particular to bond markets that have and could continue to limit electronic bond trading growth. We provide an intriguing portrait of a market in transition.

Suggested Citation

  • O'Hara, Maureen & Alex Zhou, Xing, 2021. "The electronic evolution of corporate bond dealers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(2), pages 368-390.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:140:y:2021:i:2:p:368-390
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.01.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Allen & Milena Wittwer, 2023. "Centralizing Over-the-Counter Markets?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 131(12), pages 3310-3351.
    2. James Brugler & Carole Comerton-Forde & J Spencer Martin, 2022. "Secondary Market Transparency and Corporate Bond Issuing Costs [Asset pricing and the bid–ask spread]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(1), pages 43-77.
    3. Thomas Richter, 2021. "Central Counterparties and Liquidity Provision in Cash Markets," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Rostek, Marzena, 2021. "Comments on “Regulation and security design in concentrated markets” by A. Babus and K. Hachem (2021)," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 152-154.
    5. Wang, Chaojun, 2023. "The limits of multi-dealer platforms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(3), pages 434-450.
    6. O'Hara, Maureen & Zhou, Xing (Alex), 2021. "Anatomy of a liquidity crisis: Corporate bonds in the COVID-19 crisis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(1), pages 46-68.
    7. Reichenbacher, Michael & Schuster, Philipp, 2022. "Size-adapted bond liquidity measures and their asset pricing implications," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(2), pages 425-443.
    8. deHaan, Ed & Li, Jiacui & Watts, Edward M., 2023. "Retail bond investors and credit ratings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).
    9. Simon Jurkatis & Andreas Schrimpf & Karamfil Todorov & Nicholas Vause, 2023. "Relationship discounts incorporate bond trading," BIS Working Papers 1140, Bank for International Settlements.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Electronic trading; Voice trading; RFQ; Transaction costs; Execution quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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