Journal of Finance Vol. 65 No. 1 2010

Time Variation in Liquidity: The Role of Market‐Maker Inventories and Revenues

Carole Comerton-Forde¹; Terrence Hendershott²; Charles M. Jones³; Pamela C. Moulton^4,5; Mark S. Seasholes^6,7,8

¹ UNSW Business School · ² University of California, Berkeley · ³ Columbia Business School · ⁴ Cornell University · ⁵ SC Johnson (United States) · ⁶ Fordham University · ⁷ Hong Kong University of Science and Technology · ⁸ University of Hong Kong

Abstract

We show that market‐maker balance sheet and income statement variables explain time variation in liquidity, suggesting liquidity‐supplier financing constraints matter. Using 11 years of NYSE specialist inventory positions and trading revenues, we find that aggregate market‐level and specialist firm‐level spreads widen when specialists have large positions or lose money. The effects are nonlinear and most prominent when inventories are big or trading results have been particularly poor. These sensitivities are smaller after specialist firm mergers, consistent with deep pockets easing financing constraints. Finally, compared to low volatility stocks, the liquidity of high volatility stocks is more sensitive to inventories and losses.

DOI

10.1111/j.1540-6261.2009.01530.x

Volume

65

Issue

1

Pages

295-331

Language

en

Sources

bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

Cite

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