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Making cents of tick sizes: The effect of the 2016 U.S. SEC tick size pilot on limit order book liquidity

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  • Griffith, Todd G.
  • Roseman, Brian S.

Abstract

We use the 2016 U.S. SEC tick size pilot to examine the effects of an increase in the minimum price variation on limit order book liquidity in NASDAQ-listed stocks on the NASDAQ exchange. For treatment stocks with an average pre-pilot quoted spread less than $0.05, the tick size increase is binding and leads to a significant decrease in liquidity in the limit order book. Specifically, the implied cost to trade at and away from the best bid and offer prices increases and the limit order book becomes less resilient – the amount of time required for a deviation in liquidity to return to its long-run mean. For treatment stocks with an average pre-pilot quoted spread of at least $0.05, the tick size increase is non-binding and leads to either a slight decrease, or no change in limit order book liquidity.

Suggested Citation

  • Griffith, Todd G. & Roseman, Brian S., 2019. "Making cents of tick sizes: The effect of the 2016 U.S. SEC tick size pilot on limit order book liquidity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 104-121.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:101:y:2019:i:c:p:104-121
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2019.01.017
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    5. O’Sullivan, Conall & Papavassiliou, Vassilios G. & Wafula, Ronald Wekesa & Boubaker, Sabri, 2024. "New insights into liquidity resiliency," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Chung, Kee H. & Lee, Albert J. & Rösch, Dominik, 2020. "Tick size, liquidity for small and large orders, and price informativeness: Evidence from the Tick Size Pilot Program," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(3), pages 879-899.
    7. Sean Foley & Tom G Meling & Bernt Arne Ødegaard, 2023. "Tick Size Wars: The Market Quality Effects of Pricing Grid Competition," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 27(2), pages 659-692.
    8. Griffith, Todd & Roseman, Brian & Shang, Danjue, 2020. "The effects of an increase in equity tick size on stock and option transaction costs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Jose S. Penalva & Mikel Tapia, 2021. "Heterogeneity and Competition in Fragmented Markets: Fees Vs Speed," Applied Mathematical Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(2), pages 143-177, March.
    10. Xiao, Xijuan & Yamamoto, Ryuichi, 2020. "Price discovery, order submission, and tick size during preopen period," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    11. Kee H. Chung & Chairat Chuwonganant, 2023. "Tick size and price efficiency: Further evidence from the Tick Size Pilot Program," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 52(3), pages 483-511, September.
    12. Zheng, Jiayi & Zhu, Yushu, 2023. "Algorithmic trading and block ownership initiation: An information perspective," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    13. Said, Bahrawar & Raza, Muhammad Wajid & Elshahat, Ahmed, 2024. "Does market microstructure affect time-varying efficiency? Evidence from emerging markets," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    14. Xinhui Yang & Jie Zhang & Qing Ye, 2020. "Tick size and market quality: Simulations based on agent‐based artificial stock markets," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 125-141, July.
    15. Ibikunle, Gbenga & Li, Youwei & Mare, Davide & Sun, Yuxin, 2021. "Dark matters: The effects of dark trading restrictions on liquidity and informational efficiency," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    16. Xiao, Xijuan & Yamamoto, Ryuichi, 2024. "Realized volatility, price informativeness, and tick size: A market microstructure approach," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 410-426.
    17. Kemme, David M. & McInish, Thomas H. & Zhang, Jiang, 2022. "Market fairness and efficiency: Evidence from the Tokyo Stock Exchange," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    18. Suchismita Mishra & Le Zhao, 2021. "Order Routing Decisions for a Fragmented Market: A Review," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-32, November.
    19. Li, Dan & Xia, Ying, 2021. "Gauging the effects of stock liquidity on earnings management: Evidence from the SEC tick size pilot test," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    20. Deng, Mengdie & Lin, Tse-Chun & Zhou, Jiayu, 2024. "Does better liquidity for large orders attract institutional investors and analysts? Evidence from the Tick Size Pilot Program," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    21. Jungjun Choi & Ming Yuan, 2023. "Matrix Completion When Missing Is Not at Random and Its Applications in Causal Panel Data Models," Papers 2308.02364, arXiv.org.
    22. Anwer S. Ahmed & Yiwen Li & Nina Xu, 2020. "Tick Size and Financial Reporting Quality in Small‐Cap Firms: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 869-914, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SEC tick size pilot; Limit order book; Resilience; Round-trip trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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