Quote-Based manipulation of illiquid securities

Ching Chau, Angelo Aspris, Sean Foley and Hamish Malloch

Finance Research Letters, 2021, vol. 39, issue C

Abstract: We document the effects of a manipulation akin to marking the close, conducted without any manipulative trades. Using prosecuted cases, we examine how manipulators can utilize periods of order-book illiquidity to navigate ill-conceived market design rules and influence security prices. Reference pricing, which has gained significant attention recently in interest rate and metals markets, is shown to contribute to significant increases in end of day returns for affected securities, with no observable subsequent reversals. We show that the price effects continue in the manipulated direction over extended periods, with average excess returns over 80% in the six months after manipulation.

Keywords: Benchmarks; Closing price manipulation; Marking the close (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G14 G18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:39:y:2021:i:c:s1544612319313595

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2020.101556

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