Market Microstructure
Overview
Study the micro-level mechanisms of price formation: who is trading, how they are trading, and how trades affect prices. For quantitative strategies, this matters because it improves transaction-cost estimation, identifies informed trading, and optimizes execution.
Applicable scenarios:
- Precise estimation of strategy trading costs (instead of simply assuming a flat 0.1% fee)
- Designing large-order execution strategies (
TWAP / VWAP / IS) - Detecting order-flow toxicity (avoid time windows dominated by informed traders)
- Quantifying liquidity risk (flash-crash warning)
- Capturing China A-share-specific microstructure features (call auction / closing auction / block trades)
Core Concepts
Bid-Ask Spread
Three measurements:
| Metric | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quoted spread | Ask - Bid | Best spread shown in the limit order book |
| Effective spread | `2 × | trade price - mid price |
| Realized spread | 2 × direction × (trade price - mid price 5min later) | True market-maker profit |
China A-share example:
Instrument: 600519.SH Kweichow Moutai
Best bid: 1680.00…