Does market depth concentration matter? Evidence from the Australian Stock Exchange

Abstract

In considering the behaviour of market participants, this paper introduces a new variable into the model for the determinants of institutional trading costs. By using an ex-ante measure of the concentration in the opposite-side of the market, this study suggests that traders on the opposite-side of the market herd against an incoming trader looking to trade a series of orders. The new variable measures the level of broker competition prevailing on the opposite-side of the market and is found to be negatively related with price impact.