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Assessing Measures of Order Flow Toxicity via Perfect Trade Classification

Author

Listed:
  • Torben G. Andersen

    (Northwestern University and CREATES)

  • Oleg Bondarenko

    (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Abstract

The VPIN, or Volume-synchronized Probability of INformed trading, metric is introduced by Easley, Lopez de Prado and O'Hara (ELO) as a real-time indicator of order flow toxicity. They find the measure useful in predicting return volatility and conclude it may help signal impending market turmoil. The VPIN metric involves decomposing volume into active buys and sells. We use the best-bid-offer (BBO) files from the CME Group to construct (near) perfect trade classification measures for the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract. We investigate the accuracy of the ELO Bulk Volume Classification (BVC) scheme and find it inferior to a standard tick rule based on individual transactions. Moreover, when VPIN is constructed from accurate classification, it behaves in a diametrically opposite way to BVC-VPIN. We also find the latter to have forecast power for short-term volatility solely because it generates systematic classification errors that are correlated with trading volume and return volatility. When controlling for trading intensity and volatility, the BVC-VPIN measure has no incremental predictive power for future volatility. We conclude that VPIN is not suitable for measuring order flow imbalances.

Suggested Citation

  • Torben G. Andersen & Oleg Bondarenko, 2013. "Assessing Measures of Order Flow Toxicity via Perfect Trade Classification," CREATES Research Papers 2013-43, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    • Handle: RePEc:aah:create:2013-43
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andersen, Torben G. & Bondarenko, Oleg, 2014. "VPIN and the flash crash," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 1-46.
    2. Andersen, Torben G. & Bondarenko, Oleg, 2014. "Reflecting on the VPIN dispute," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 53-64.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    VPIN; Accuracy of Trade Classification; Order Flow Toxicity; Order Imbalance; Volatility Forecasting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • 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
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation
    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics

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