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Journal of Financial Intermediation Vol. 21 No. 1 2012

The effect of a closing call auction on market quality and trading strategies

Eugene Kandel1; Barbara Rindi2; Luisella Bosetti3

1 Hebrew University of Jerusalem · 2 Bocconi University · 3 Borsa Italiana Spa, Piazza degli Affari 6, 20123 Milan, Italy

Abstract

We study the effects of the introduction of a closing auction (CA) on the microstructure on the continuous trading phase in Borsa Italiana and Paris Bourse. We postulate and compare several empirical predictions based on both standard Kyle-type models and more recent models of limit order book. We find that while the CA has no effect during most of the day, its effect on the last minutes of trading is dramatic. We document a sharp decline in volume, associated with a significant reduction in spread and volatility, and an increase in aggressiveness of liquidity suppliers during the last minutes. We show that the differences in the Reference Price algorithm between Milan and Paris have a significant effect: the CA attracts greater volumes when the Reference Price is equated to the CA price.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfi.2011.03.002
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pages
23-49
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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