We analyze the empirical power and specification of test statistics designed to detect abnormal bond returns in corporate event studies, using monthly and daily data. We find that test statistics based on frequently used methods of calculating abnormal monthly bond returns are biased. Most...

We develop a simple model of the effect of transaction reporting on trade execution costs and test it using a sample of institutional trades in corporate bonds, before and after the initiation of public transaction reporting through the TRACE system. The results indicate a reduction of...

We develop a simple model of the effect of transaction reporting on trade execution costs and test it using a sample of institutional trades in corporate bonds, before and after the initiation of public transaction reporting through the TRACE system. The results indicate a reduction of...

We examine the Paris Bourse, whose electronic limit order market closely resembles the downstairs markets envisioned by theorists, to test several theoretical predictions regarding upstairs trading. We present direct evidence in support of the Grossman (1992) prediction that upstairs brokers...

Quoted and effective bid-ask spreads on Nasdaq are two to four cents per share narrower, ceteris paribus, when stocks trade with a smaller tick size below $10 per share. There is no evidence of a reduction in liquidity with the smaller tick size. The largest spread reductions occur for stocks...

We use price data from an array of futures markets to test whether investors expect spot asset prices to revert, and we identify two sources of equilibrium mean reversion: negative covariation between prices and interest rates, and positive covariation between prices and benefits to holding the...

Several studies provide theoretic analysis of agents' motivations for trading in financial markets. Broadly speaking, these studies imply that trading volume results from (i) information flows, (ii) cross-sectional differences in agents' assessment of value, and (iii) agents' random liquidity...

We compare average trade execution costs during 1994 for sets of large, medium, and small capitalization stocks listed on the New York and Nasdaq stock markets. All measures of execution costs examined, including quoted bid-ask spreads, effective spreads (which allow for executions within the...

We exploit a discontinuity in the New York Stock Exchange Designated Market Maker (DMM) contract to identify causal effects of DMM participation on equilibrium market outcomes. We document that contractual features that enhance DMM participation are associated with increased depth, narrower...

Research on certain types of institutional order flow has highlighted potential destabilizing effects on market quality related to the fact that these orders can be anticipated by other market participants. Examples include the rebalancing of rules-based indexes and ETFs, including end-of-day...