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Diving into Dark Pools

Author

Listed:
  • Buti, Sabrina

    (University of Toronto)

  • Rindi, Barbara

    (IGIER and Carefin)

  • Werner, Ingrid M.

    (Ohio State University)

Abstract

This paper examines unique data on dark pool activity for a large cross-section of US stocks in 2009. Dark pool activity is concentrated in large firms, stocks with high share volume, high price, low spreads, high depth, and low short-term volatility. NASDAQ (AMEX) stocks have significantly higher (lower) dark pool activity than NYSE stocks controlling for size, share volume, and price. For a given stock, dark pool activity is significantly higher on days with higher share volume, higher depth, and lower intraday volatility. Dark pool activity is significantly lower for days with larger order imbalances relative to share volume and larger absolute returns. We find no evidence supporting the hypothesis that dark pool activity has a detrimental effect on market quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Buti, Sabrina & Rindi, Barbara & Werner, Ingrid M., 2010. "Diving into Dark Pools," Working Paper Series 2010-10, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2010-10
    as

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    File URL: http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/fin/dice/papers/2010/2010-10.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Bień-Barkowska, 2014. "“Every move you make, every step you take, I’ll be watching you” – the quest for hidden orders in the interbank FX spot market," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 45(3), pages 197-224.
    2. Michael J Fleming & Giang Nguyen, 2019. "Price and Size Discovery in Financial Markets: Evidence from the U.S. Treasury Securities Market," The Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 9(2), pages 256-295.
    3. Carole Gresse, 2017. "Effects of Lit and Dark Market Fragmentation on Liquidity," Post-Print hal-01631771, HAL.
    4. Dees, S. & Gaiduchevici, G. & Grodzicki, M. & Gross, M. & Hilberg, B. & Maliszewski, K. & Rancoita, E. & Silva, R. & Testi, S. & Venditti, F. & Volk, M., 2016. "Macroprudential effects of systemic bank stress," Macroprudential Bulletin, European Central Bank, vol. 2.
    5. Rasmeet Kohli, 2014. "Market fragmentation of securities market: traditional exchanges versus alternate trading venues," Macroeconomics and Finance in Emerging Market Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 303-314, September.
    6. Lafarguette Romain, 2016. "High-frequency Trading, Market Volatility, and Regulation: The Role of High-frequency Quoting and Dark Pools," Macroprudential Bulletin, European Central Bank, vol. 2.
    7. Hans Degryse & Frank de Jong & Vincent van Kervel, 2015. "The Impact of Dark Trading and Visible Fragmentation on Market Quality," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 19(4), pages 1587-1622.
    8. Nimalendran, Mahendrarajah & Ray, Sugata, 2014. "Informational linkages between dark and lit trading venues," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 230-261.
    9. van Kervel, V.L., 2013. "Competition between stock exchanges and optimal trading," Other publications TiSEM 5c608a0f-527d-441d-a910-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Sabrina Buti & Barbara Rindi & Ingrid M. Werner, 2011. "Dark Pool Trading Strategies," Working Papers 421, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    11. Philippe de Peretti & Oren Tapiero, 2014. "A GARCH analysis of dark-pool trades," Post-Print hal-00984834, HAL.
    12. Sabrina Buti & Barbara Rindi & Ingrid M. Werner, 2014. "Dark Pool Trading Strategies, Market Quality and Welfare," Working Papers 530, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    13. Degryse, H.A. & de Jong, F.C.J.M. & van Kervel, V.L., 2011. "The Impact of Dark and Visible Fragmentation on Market Quality (Replaces CentER Discussion Paper 2011-051)," Other publications TiSEM f9895511-3b4b-4db5-bf34-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    14. Peter Gomber & Satchit Sagade & Erik Theissen & Moritz Christian Weber & Christian Westheide, 2017. "Competition Between Equity Markets: A Review Of The Consolidation Versus Fragmentation Debate," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 792-814, July.
    15. Caccavaio, M. & Rodriguez d´Acri, C., 2016. "Macroprudential policy analysis and tools - Monitoring euro area banks’ risk weight developments," Macroprudential Bulletin, European Central Bank, vol. 2.
    16. Carole Gresse, 2011. "Effects of Lit and Dark Market Fragmentation on Liquidity," Post-Print halshs-00641122, HAL.
    17. Reed, Adam V. & Samadi, Mehrdad & Sokobin, Jonathan S., 2020. "Shorting in Broad Daylight: Short Sales and Venue Choice," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(7), pages 2246-2269, November.
    18. Philippe de Peretti & Oren Tapiero, 2014. "A GARCH analysis of dark-pool trades," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-00984834, HAL.
    19. Michael Brolley, 2020. "Price Improvement and Execution Risk in Lit and Dark Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(2), pages 863-886, February.
    20. Jana Bielagk & Ulrich Horst & Santiago Moreno--Bromberg, 2016. "A Principal-Agent Model of Trading Under Market Impact -Crossing networks interacting with dealer markets-," Papers 1607.04047, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2016.

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