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Why do traders choose dark markets?

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  • Garvey, Ryan
  • Huang, Tao
  • Wu, Fei

Abstract

We examine U.S. equity trader use of dark and lit markets. Marketable orders executed in the dark have lower information content and smaller fill rates. Dark orders take longer to execute, but they execute at more favorable prices. Traders are more likely to go dark when the bid-ask spread is wider and those with higher dark participation are more sophisticated. Although market regulators have expressed concern over the rise in dark trading, our results indicate that dark markets provide important benefits to traders that lit markets do not.

Suggested Citation

  • Garvey, Ryan & Huang, Tao & Wu, Fei, 2016. "Why do traders choose dark markets?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 12-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:68:y:2016:i:c:p:12-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2016.02.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Petrescu, Monica & Wedow, Michael, 2017. "Dark pools in European equity markets: emergence, competition and implications," Occasional Paper Series 193, European Central Bank.
    3. Justin Cox & Kathleen P. Fuller & Robert Van Ness, 2024. "Where does ex‐dividend trading occur: An examination of trading venues around dividends," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(1), pages 31-55, February.
    4. Degryse, Hans & Karagiannis, Nikolaos & Tombeur, Geoffrey & Wuyts, Gunther, 2021. "Two shades of opacity: Hidden orders and dark trading," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    5. Duong, Huu Nhan & Kalev, Petko S. & Tian, Xiao Jason, 2022. "Does the bid–ask spread affect trading in exchange operated dark pools? Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Ibikunle, Gbenga & Rzayev, Khaladdin, 2023. "Volatility and dark trading: Evidence from the Covid-19 pandemic," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    7. Bayona, Anna & Dumitrescu, Ariadna & Manzano, Carolina, 2023. "Information and optimal trading strategies with dark pools," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    8. Jon A. Fulkerson & Timothy B. Riley, 2017. "Mutual Fund Liquidity Costs," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 46(2), pages 359-375, June.
    9. Jurich, Stephen N., 2021. "Does off-exchange trading decrease in the presence of uncertainty?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 201-213.
    10. Gomber, Peter & Sagade, Satchit & Theissen, Erik & Weber, Moritz Christian & Westheide, Christian, 2016. "Spoilt for choice: Order routing decisions in fragmented equity markets," SAFE Working Paper Series 143, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    11. Neumeier, Christian & Gozluklu, Arie & Hoffmann, Peter & O’Neill, Peter & Suntheim, Felix, 2023. "Banning dark pools: Venue selection and investor trading costs," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    12. Suchismita Mishra & Le Zhao, 2021. "Order Routing Decisions for a Fragmented Market: A Review," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-32, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trading; Dark pools; Order execution quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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