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Anonymity, liquidity and fragmentation

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  • Comerton-Forde, Carole
  • Tang, Kar Mei

Abstract

We examine the effects of the removal of broker identifiers from the central limit order book of the Australian Stock Exchange. We find that spreads and order aggressiveness decline, and order book depth increases, with the introduction of anonymous trading. This is consistent with the hypothesis that limit order traders are more willing to expose their orders when they can do so anonymously. Anonymous markets attract order flow from non-anonymous substitute markets, but this effect is only seen in large stocks. Our results suggest that exchanges operating in fragmented markets should consider anonymous trading to improve price competition and liquidity, although some of these benefits may be significant only if the stocks are sufficiently large and liquid.

Suggested Citation

  • Comerton-Forde, Carole & Tang, Kar Mei, 2009. "Anonymity, liquidity and fragmentation," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 337-367, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finmar:v:12:y:2009:i:3:p:337-367
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ainsworth, Andrew & Lee, Adrian D., 2014. "Waiting costs and limit order book liquidity: Evidence from the ex-dividend deadline in Australia," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 101-128.
    4. Paiardini, Paola, 2015. "Informed trading in parallel bond markets," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 103-121.
    5. Henk Berkman & Carole Comerton‐Forde, 2011. "Market microstructure: A review from down under," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 51(1), pages 50-78, March.
    6. Trang Nguyen & Huu Nhan Duong & Harminder Singh, 2016. "Stock Market Liquidity and Firm Value: An Empirical Examination of the Australian Market," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 16(4), pages 639-646, December.
    7. Thu Phuong Pham, 2015. "Broker ID transparency and price impact of trades: evidence from the Korean Exchange," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(1), pages 117-131, February.
    8. Grimstvedt Meling, Tom, 2017. "Anonymous trading in equities," Working Papers in Economics 7/17, University of Bergen, Department of Economics.
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    10. Dennis, Patrick J. & Sandås, Patrik, 2014. "Does Trading Anonymously Enhance Liquidity?," Working Paper Series 288, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden).
    11. Tom Grimstvedt Meling, 2021. "Anonymous Trading in Equities," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(2), pages 707-754, April.
    12. Angelo Carollo & Gabriella Vaglica & Fabrizio Lillo & Rosario N. Mantegna, 2012. "Trading activity and price impact in parallel markets: SETS vs. off-book market at the London Stock Exchange," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 517-530, November.
    13. Duong, Huu Nhan & Kalev, Petko S., 2014. "Anonymity and the Information Content of the Limit Order Book," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 205-219.
    14. Duong, Huu Nhan & Kalev, Petko S. & Krishnamurti, Chandrasekhar, 2009. "Order aggressiveness of institutional and individual investors," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 533-546, November.
    15. Murphy Jun Jie Lee, 2013. "The Microstructure of Trading Processes on the Singapore Exchange," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 4, July-Dece.
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    19. Claudio Impenna & Paola Paiardini, 2019. "Informed trading in a two-tier market structure under financial distress," Discussion Papers 19-06, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
    20. Pham, Thu Phuong & Westerholm, P. Joakim, 2013. "A survey of research into broker identity and limit order book," Working Papers 17212, University of Tasmania, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, revised 16 Oct 2013.
    21. repec:uts:finphd:34 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Duong, Huu Nhan & Lajbcygier, Paul & Lu, Jerry Shuai & Vu, Van Hoang, 2018. "The effect of anonymity on price efficiency: Evidence from the removal of broker identities," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 95-107.
    23. Murphy Jun Jie Lee, 2013. "The Microstructure of Trading Processes on the Singapore Exchange," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 2-2013, January-A.
    24. Dennis, Patrick J. & Sandås, Patrik, 2020. "Does Trading Anonymously Enhance Liquidity?," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(7), pages 2372-2396, November.

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