AI gone amuck?I asked Copilot about todays trades because I had a suspicion it was market makers at work using alogarithms.
Or maybe the trading is being hacked by a rogue AP with AI installed. :-) The question I asked was,
"
Why are some stock trades broken into several or many smaller trades in quick succession within seconds of each other?" -- Answer below todays trading chart. | Recent Trades - Last 10 of 11 | More trades... |
| 15:54:51 | V | 0.045 | | 25,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:57:50 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 1,000 | 7 TD Sec | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:57:50 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 12,000 | 7 TD Sec | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:57:50 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 9,000 | 7 TD Sec | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:57:50 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 30,000 | 7 TD Sec | 7 TD Sec | K |
| 09:48:27 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 1,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:48:27 | V | 0.05 | 0.005 | 5,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | KL |
| 09:48:27 | O | 0.05 | 0.005 | 6,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:48:27 | H | 0.05 | 0.005 | 5,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | K |
| 09:48:27 | H | 0.05 | 0.005 | 8,000 | 2 RBC | 1 Anonymous | K |
When you observe stock trades being broken into smaller transactions within seconds, it’s often due to algorithmic trading strategies and market fragmentation. Here are some reasons:
-
Liquidity: Algorithms aim to execute trades efficiently by breaking them into smaller chunks. This allows them to access available liquidity across various exchanges or dark pools.
-
Price Impact: Large trades can significantly impact prices. Smaller trades help mitigate this impact, especially for illiquid stocks.
-
Market Makers: Some algorithms act as market makers, continuously providing liquidity by buying and selling. Breaking trades helps them manage risk.
-
Regulations: Regulatory rules may require breaking large orders to prevent market manipulation or excessive volatility.
-
Speed: Algorithms execute trades in milliseconds. Breaking them into smaller parts allows for faster execution.
Remember that these strategies vary, and not all small trades are algorithmic. Market dynamics and participant behavior play a role too!