COMMENTARY: A Retrospective Look: Phantom Liquidity and High-Frequency Quoting

Abstract

In this paper we take a retrospective look at our paper “Phantom Liquidity and High-Frequency Quoting” and discuss the context of the research in light of our broader inquiry into the nature of the high-frequency trading industry. The data presented in this paper appear to show that limit order cancellations of high-frequency traders are associated with price discovery and liquidity provision, rather than some manner of systematic taking advantage of other market participants. These firms are acting as rational, profit-seeking businesses, and we believe time has shown this view to be correct. In the years since publication, HFT has matured, and consolidated into fewer, lower-cost providers of efficiency and liquidity services, much like we would expect in any other industry.

TOPICS: Legal/regulatory/public policy, quantitative methods