Tick sizes and relative rates of price discovery in stock,futures, and options markets: Evidence from the Taiwan stock exchange

This study examines the competition in price discovery among stock index, index futures, and index options in Taiwan. The price‐discovery ability of the Taiwan Top 50 Tracker Fund, an exchange‐traded fund based on the Taiwan 50 index is examined. The authors find that, after the minimum tick size in the stock market decreases, the bid–ask spreads of the component stocks of the stock index and the Taiwan Top 50 Tracker Fund get lower, and the contribution of the spot market to price discovery increases. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 29:74–93, 2009     

The impact of electronic trading on bid‐ask spreads: Evidence from futures markets in Hong Kong,London, and Sydney

During 1999 and 2000, three major futures exchanges transferred trading in stock index futures from open outcry to electronic markets: the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE); the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE); and the Hong Kong Futures Exchange (HKFE). These changes provide unique natural experiments to compare relative bid‐ask spreads of open outcry vs. electronically traded markets. This paper provides evidence of a decrease in bid‐ask spreads following the introduction of electronic trading, after controlling for changes in price volatility and trading volume. This provides support for the proposition that electronic trading can facilitate higher levels of liquidity and lower transaction costs relative to floor traded markets. However, bid‐ask spreads are more sensitive to price volatility in electronically traded markets, suggesting that the performance of electronic trading systems deteriorates during periods of information arrival. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 24:675–696, 2004     

Is it time to reduce the minimum tick sizes of the E‐mini futures?

On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), so‐called “E‐mini” index futures contracts trade on the electronic GLOBEX trading system alongside the corresponding full‐size contracts that trade on the open outcry floor. This paper finds that the current minimum tick sizes of the E‐mini S&P 500 and E‐mini Nasdaq‐100 futures contracts act as binding constraints on the bid‐ask spreads by not allowing the spreads to decline to competitive levels. We also find that, while exchange locals trade very actively on GLOBEX, they do not tend to act as liquidity suppliers. Taken together, our empirical results suggest that it is time for the CME to consider decreasing the minimum tick sizes of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq‐100 E‐mini futures contracts. A tick size reduction is likely to result in lower trading costs in the E‐mini futures markets. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 25:79–104, 2005     

Tick size reduction,execution costs,and informational efficiency in the regular and E-mini Nasdaq-100 index futures markets

On April 2, 2006, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reduced the minimum tick size of the floor-traded and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures from 0.5 to 0.25 index points. This study examines the effect of this change in the contract design on execution costs, informational efficiency, and price discovery. The results show a significant reduction in the effective spreads in both of the contract markets but especially in the electronically traded E-mini futures. The paper also finds that the tick size reduction has improved price discovery and informational efficiency in the E-mini futures market. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:871–888, 2008     

Reversing the lead,or a series of unfortunate events? NYMEX,ICE, and Amaranth

A number of studies compare the efficiency and transparency of floor trading with automated/electronic trading systems in the competition for order flow. Although most of these studies find that electronic systems lead price discovery, a few studies highlight the weaknesses of electronic trading in highly volatile market conditions. A series of unusual events in 2006, sparking extreme volatility in natural gas futures trading, provide an ideal setting to revisit the resilience of trading system price leadership in the face of high volatility. We estimate time‐varying Hasbrouck‐style information shares to investigate the intertemporal and cross‐sectional dynamics in price discovery. The results strongly suggest that the information share is time‐dependent and contract‐dependent. Floor trading dominates price discovery in the less liquid longer‐maturity contracts, whereas electronic trading dominates price discovery in the most liquid spot‐month contract. We find that the floor trading information share increases significantly with realized volatility. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 29:1130–1160, 2009     

Information transmission in electronic versus open‐outcry trading systems: An analysis of U.S. equity index futures markets

In this article the intraday price discovery process between regular index futures (floor trading) and E‐mini index futures (electronic trading) in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 index futures markets is examined, using intraday data from the introduction of the E‐mini index futures to 2001. Using both information shares (Hasbrouck, J., 1995) and common long‐memory factor weights (Gonzalo, J., & Granger, C. W. J., 1995) techniques, we find that both E‐mini index futures and regular index futures contribute to the price discovery process. However, since September 1998, the contribution made by E‐mini index futures has been greater than that provided by regular index futures. Based on regression analysis, we have also found direct empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that the joint effects of operational efficiency and relative liquidity determine the greater contribution made towards price discovery by electronic trading relative to open‐outcry trading over time. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 25: 679–715, 2005     

Fractional versus decimal pricing: Evidence from the UK Long Gilt futures market

This paper analyses the impact of a move from fractional to decimal pricing in the UK Long Gilt futures market, and thus offers a unique insight to tick size reduction and decimalization in a derivatives market setting. The reduced tick size leads to an increase in price clustering. The bid‐ask spread, measured in ticks, increases following the tick size reduction. However, due to a reduced tick value, the monetary value of the spread declines. There is a substantial reduction in mean trade size as reduced‐depth orders become trades. The mean daily number of transactions increases, which is entirely consistent with increased volume and decreased mean trade size. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 25:419–442, 2005     

Price discovery in the foreign exchange futures market

Examination is made of the relative contributions to price discovery of the floor and electronically traded euro FX and Japanese yen futures markets and the corresponding retail on‐line foreign exchange spot markets. GLOBEX electronic futures contracts provide the most price discovery in the euro; the on‐line trading spot market provides the most in the Japanese yen. The floor‐traded futures markets contribute the least to price discovery in both the euro and the Japanese yen markets. The overall results show that electronic trading platforms facilitate price discovery more efficiently than floor trading. Futures traders may also extract information from on‐line spot prices. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26:1131–1143, 2006     

Does tick size influence price discovery? Evidence from the Toronto Stock Exchange

We investigate the price discovery role of an exchange‐traded fund and the futures contract for the same market index. We find that the fund predicts the index in the subperiod after but not in the subperiod before a substantial decrease in the minimum tick size. The futures predict the index in both subperiods. The results are consistent with the view that the factors leading to successful price discovery do not depend on zero investment, as in futures markets, but do depend on a small tick size. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 23:49–66, 2003     

Duration,trading volume and the price impact of trades in an emerging futures market

This paper examines the price impact of trading intensity on the MexDer TIIE28 interest rate futures contract, one of the world's most actively traded contracts. A novel volume-augmented duration model of price discovery decomposes trading intensity into liquidity and information components. Duration between transactions exerts a positive influence on price changes, while increases in order flow and trade volume exert positive and negative influences, respectively. The liquidity component dominates the information measure, suggesting that liquidity considerations dictate trade timing. These findings are rationalized with reference to MexDer's organizational structure, specifically the affirmative obligations placed upon marketmakers to trade a minimum volume.     

Price discovery and investor structure in stock index futures

Previous literature on price discovery in stock index futures and spot markets neglects the role of different investor groups. This study relates time‐varying spot‐futures linkages studied within a VECM‐DCC‐GARCH framework to changes in the investor structure of the futures market over time. Empirical results suggest that during the dominance of presumably uninformed private investors, the futures market does not contribute to price discovery. By contrast, there is evidence of information flows from futures to spot markets and a significant increase in conditional correlation between both markets as institutional investors' share in trading volume increases. We derive implications for the design of emerging futures markets. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark31:282–306, 2011     

The contribution of a satellite market to price discovery: Evidence from the Singapore exchange

The Singapore Exchange (SGX), a small satellite market, successfully competes with a large home market, the Osaka Securities Exchange (OSE), in trading the Nikkei 225 futures index. In this paper, we investigate the contribution of the SGX to price discovery and shed light on the reasons for its continued success. Evidence is provided from information revelation and price discovery of three competing but informationally linked markets of the Nikkei 225 index—domestic spot (Tokyo Stock Exchange), domestic futures (OSE), and foreign futures (SGX), which represents the satellite market. Overall, the futures market contributes 77% to price discovery, with the satellite market contributing 42% of the futures and 33% of the total price discovery. These figures, surprisingly, far exceed the satellite market's share of trading volume. Support is provided for the extended trading hours on the SGX for three of the four non‐overlapping trading sub‐periods. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 24:981–1004, 2004     

Bid‐ask spreads,volatility, quote revisions,and trades of thinly traded futures contracts

We investigate intraday bid‐ask spreads (BAS), volatility, and trading activity of thinly traded equity index futures contracts on the Singapore Exchange. Contrary to previous findings, we find a rather flat BAS pattern during the trading day. However, consistent with past findings, an increase in risk widens the spread and a higher trading activity reduces it. When trading occurs in a day, spreads are reduced. No significant difference in volatility between days with and without trades was detected. When trades occur, quote revisions increase, and it is positively related to the number of trades. An increase in the number of quote revisions increases the likelihood of a transaction, and when quotes are current, revisions that are accompanied by trades carry new information. We provide evidence that contracts that are thinly traded may possess liquidity attributes as long as their price quotes remain current. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 23:455–486, 2003     

Information revelation in the futures market: Evidence from single stock futures

This paper analyzes 31 months of data on 137 single‐stock futures (SSFs) traded on OneChicago. The results indicate that on the days they trade, SSFs contribute approximately 24% of the price discovery for underlying stocks. Information revelation in the SSFs market decreases with the ratio of spreads in the futures and the stock markets and the volatility in the stock market. Moreover, the quality of the market for the underlying stocks improves substantially after the introduction of the SSFs market, with the largest improvement occurring on days with SSFs trading. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:335– 353, 2008     

Information content of extended trading for index futures

The recent extension of trading hours for Hang Seng Index Futures provides an opportunity to examine whether extended futures trading contains useful information about spot returns. Using the weighted price contribution measure, we find that pre‐open futures trades are associated with significant price discovery. We extend the model from T. Hiraki, E. D. Maberly, and N. Takezawa (1995) and adjust for the existence of a pre‐open trading session and the overnight trading of cross‐listed shares in London. Our results indicate that extended trading for index futures contains useful information in explaining subsequent spot returns during the trading day. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 24:861–886, 2004     

Trading protocols and price discovery: Implicit transaction costs in Indian single stock futures

We show how trading protocols impede the price discovery process in single stock futures as implicit trade costs outweigh explicit costs. Despite the trade volume dominance, trade costs advantage and leverage efficiency in futures markets, single stock futures account for only 35% of the price discovery vis-á-vis the spot market. Futures market's informational efficiency is adversely affected by market frictions in the form of marketwide position limits, minimum contract values, and margin requirements.     

Price clustering in E‐mini and floor‐traded index futures

This article sets out to investigate price clustering in both the open‐outcry (floor‐traded) and electronically traded (E‐mini) index futures markets of the DJIA, S&P 500, and NASDAQ‐100 indices. The results show that although price clustering is ubiquitous in both the floor‐traded and E‐mini index futures markets, it nevertheless tends to be higher for open‐outcry index futures, with the clustering in floor‐traded NASDAQ‐100 index futures demonstrating the highest level (97%) at zero digits. A significant increase was also found in price clustering in floor‐traded index futures after the introduction of E‐mini futures trading. The results tend to suggest that those trading mechanisms that involve higher levels of human participation, such as the open‐outcry markets, may well lead to increased incidences of price clustering. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26: 269–295, 2006     

How electronic trading affects bid‐ask spreads and arbitrage efficiency between index futures and options

This paper examines the impact of switching to electronic trading on the relative pricing efficiency of Hang Sang Index futures and options contracts traded on the Hong Kong exchange. The study is motivated by the recent shift in 2000 from the pit to an electronic trading platform. Electronic trading leads to lower bid‐ask spreads and less price clustering than floor trading in both the options and futures markets. Mispricing between futures and options drops significantly after the change. Quicker correction of mispricing indicates a significant improvement in dynamic inter‐market arbitrage efficiency with electronic trading. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 25:375–398, 2005     

Decreased price clustering in FTSE100 futures contracts following a transfer from floor to electronic trading

The issues of price clustering and electronic trading have triggered important recent debates, and generated interest from regulators due to their potential implications for market quality, stability, and fairness. This paper brings together these issues by examining whether price‐clustering behavior differs following a transfer of futures contracts from open outcry trading to an electronic system. The results are unique in demonstrating a structural change in price clustering following the move to automated trading, with the level of price clustering dropping from around 98.5% of prices at even ticks under floor trading to approximately 75% under electronic trading. Such a change in pricing behavior amounts to a reduction in the effective tick size, and is an important factor in reducing observed bid‐ask spreads. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 23:647–659, 2003     

Price discovery in the options markets: An application of put‐call parity

This study investigates the relative rate of price discovery in Taiwan between index futures and index options, proposing a put‐call parity (PCP) approach to recover the spot index embedded in the options premiums. The PCP approach offers the benefits of reducing model risk and alleviating the burden of volatility estimation. Consistent with the trading‐cost hypothesis, a dominant tendency is found for futures and a subordinate but non‐trivial price discovery from options. The relative weight of options price discovery is sensitive to the methodology employed as the means of inferring the option‐implicit spot price. The empirical evidence suggests that the information contained in the PCP‐implied spot encompasses that provided by the Black‐Scholes‐implied spot. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:354– 375, 2008