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The ambivalent role of high-frequency trading in turbulent market periods

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  • Hautsch, Nikolaus
  • Noé, Michael
  • Zhang, S. Sarah

Abstract

We show an ambivalent role of high-frequency traders (HFTs) in the Eurex Bund Futures market around high-impact macroeconomic announcements and extreme events. Around macroeconomic announcements, HFTs serve as market makers, post competitive spreads, and earn most of their profits through liquidity supply. Right before the announcement, however, HFTs significantly widen spreads and cause a rapid but short-lived drying-out of liquidity. In turbulent periods, such as after the U.K. Brexit announcement, HFTs shift their focus from market making activities to aggressive (but not necessarily profitable) directional strategies. Then, HFT activity becomes dominant and market quality can degrade.

Suggested Citation

  • Hautsch, Nikolaus & Noé, Michael & Zhang, S. Sarah, 2017. "The ambivalent role of high-frequency trading in turbulent market periods," CFS Working Paper Series 580, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cfswop:580
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bellia, Mario & Christensen, Kim & Kolokolov, Aleksey & Pelizzon, Loriana & Renò, Roberto, 2022. "Do designated market makers provide liquidity during a flash crash?," SAFE Working Paper Series 270, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, revised 2022.
    2. Brice Corgnet & Mark DeSantis & Christoph Siemroth, 2023. "Algorithmic Trading, Price Efficiency and Welfare: An Experimental Approach," Working Papers 2313, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    3. Yamada, Masahiro, 2022. "Profitability and liquidity provision of HFTs during large price shocks: Does relative tick size matter?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    4. Ersan, Oguz & Simsir, Serif Aziz & Simsek, Koray D. & Hasan, Afan, 2021. "The speed of stock price adjustment to corporate announcements: Insights from Turkey," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    5. Park, Seongkyu Gilbert & Ryu, Doojin, 2019. "Speed and trading behavior in an order-driven market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 145-164.
    6. Ekinci, Cumhur & Ersan, Oğuz, 2022. "High-frequency trading and market quality: The case of a “slightly exposed” market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    High Frequency Trading; Market Making; News Releases; Futures Market; Brexit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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