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Mini flash crashes: Review, taxonomy and policy responses

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  • Floris Laly
  • Mikael Petitjean

Abstract

We focus on extreme price movements known as mini flash crashes (MFCs). After reviewing the literature, we provide a taxonomy based on a sample of MFCs identified by Nanex on the U.S. financial markets over a three‐year period. We detect significant differences between crashes and exchanges. In comparison to ‘up crashes’, we find that ‘down crashes’ exhibit lower absolute returns but have longer duration. We also show that the dynamics of MCFs varies across exchanges. For example, the MFCs on ARCA are on average both less severe and shorter in duration than those on the NASDAQ. We finally review all the key implications of MCFs in terms of public policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Floris Laly & Mikael Petitjean, 2020. "Mini flash crashes: Review, taxonomy and policy responses," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(3), pages 251-271, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:buecrs:v:72:y:2020:i:3:p:251-271
    DOI: 10.1111/boer.12221
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    Cited by:

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    2. Flora, Maria & Renò, Roberto, 2025. "V-shapes," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Christophe Desagre & Floris Laly & Mikael Petitjean, 2025. "Revisiting the trading activity of high-frequency trading firms around ultra-fast flash events," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 1-37, December.
    4. Luca Henrichs & Anton J. Heckens & Thomas Guhr, 2025. "Ultrafast Extreme Events: Empirical Analysis of Mechanisms and Recovery in a Historical Perspective," Papers 2509.10376, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2026.
    5. Li, Yifan & Nolte, Ingmar & Nolte, Sandra & Yu, Shifan, 2025. "Realized candlestick wicks," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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