An Econometric Analysis for the Behavior of the Bid-Ask Spread

Abstract

Information asymmetries are an important element in the functioning of capital markets. An indirect means of measuring information asymmetry is through the spread of stock prices. The purpose of this paper is to identify the explanatory variables and the determinants of the bid-ask spread and to quantify the influence that the actors involved in the brokering of publically offered securities may have over the spread. The methodology used to model the time series for each of the analyzed companies is based on a time series from each of the observed econometric multivariate processes. The analysis shows a significantly negative relationship between the spread and the market-maker size, calculated in terms of both the equity and the stock portfolio; likewise, activity is measured by observing the amount offered for purchase and/or sale.

Share and Cite:

de la Fuente-Mella, H. , Campos-Espinoza, R. , Silva-Palavecinos, B. and Cademartori-Rosso, D. (2013) An Econometric Analysis for the Behavior of the Bid-Ask Spread. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 1, 1-5. doi: 10.4236/jss.2013.17001.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Afonsoab, A., & Jallesbc, J. T. (2012). Fiscal volatility, financial crises and growth. Applied Economics Letters, 19, 1821-1826. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2012.667531 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[2] Amihud, Y., & Mendelson, H. (1980). Dealership markets market making with inventory. Journal of Financial Economics, 8, 21-53.
[3] Amihud, Y., & Mendelson, H. (1989). The effects of beta, bid-ask spread, residual risk, and size on stock returns. The Journal of Finance, 44, 479-486. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1989.tb05067.x [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[4] Benston, G. J., & Hagerman, R. L. (1974). Determinants of bid-asked spreads in the over-the-counter market. Journal of Financial Economics, 1, 353-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(74)90014-2 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[5] Bollen, N., Smith, T., & Whaley, R. (2004). Modeling the bid/ask spread: Measuring the inventory-holding premium. Journal of Financial Economics, 72, 97-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(03)00169-7 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[6] Bollerslev, T. (1986). Generalized autoregressive conditional heterocedasticity. Journal of Econometrics, 31, 307-327. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-4076(86)90063-1 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[7] Botosan, C. A. (1997). Disclosure level and the cost of equity capital. The Accounting Review, 72, 323-349.
[8] Chan, K., & Chung, P. (2011). Asymmetric price distribution and bid-ask quotes in the stock options market draft. http://www.apjfs.org/conference/2011/cafmFile/2-4.pdf
[9] Chung, K., & Li, M. (2003). Adverse-selection costs and the probability of information-based trading. The Financial Review, 38, 257-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1540-6288.00045 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[10] Coloma, F. (2010). Desafíos de la regulación de gobiernos corporativos en Chile. Superintendente de Valores y Seguros. Presentación Jornada de Gobierno Corporativo Centro de Gobierno Corporativo Universidad Católica, November 18, 2010.
[11] Coller, M., & Yohn, T. (1997). Management forecasts and information asymmetry: An examination of bid-ask spreads. Journal of Accounting Research, 35, 181-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2491359 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[12] Copeland, T., & Galai, D. (1983). Information effects on the bid-ask spread. Journal of Finance, 38, 1457-1469. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1983.tb03834.x [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[13] Demsetz, H. (1968). The costs of transacting. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 82, 33-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1882244 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[14] Engle, F. R. (1982). Autoregressive conditional heterocedasticity whit estimates of the variance of United Kingdom inflation. Econometrica, 50, 987-1008. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1912773 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[15] Garman, M. B. (1976). Market microstructure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3, 257-275. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90006-4 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[16] Glosten, L., & Milgrom, P. (1985). Bid, ask and the transaction prices in a specialist market with heterogeneously informed traders. Journal of Financial Economics, 14, 71-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(85)90044-3 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[17] Haat, H. M., Mahenthiran, S., Rahman, A. R., & Hamid, A. N. (2006). Agency costs as a factor in the suspension of companies from the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange. Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, 2, 99-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1815-5669(10)70018-7 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[18] Hansch, O., Naik, N., & Viswanathan, S. (1998). Do inventories matter in dealership markets? Evidence from the London stock exchange. Journal of Finance, 53, 1623-1656. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00067 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[19] Hernández, L., & Parro, F. (2004). Sistema financiero y crecimiento económico en Chile, Banco Central de Chile, Working Paper No. 291, Santiago, Chile.
[20] Ho, T., & Stoll, H. (1980). On dealer markets under competition. Journal of Finance, 35, 259-267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1980.tb02153.x [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[21] Ho, T., & Stoll, H. (1981). Optimal dealer pricing under transactions and return uncertainty. Journal of Financial Economics, 9, 47-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(81)90020-9 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[22] Huang, R., & Stoll, H. (1997). The components of the bid-ask spread: A general approach. The Review of Financial Studies, 10, 995-1034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rfs/10.4.995 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[23] Kim, O., & Verrecchia, R. E. (1994). Market liquidity and volume around earnings announcements. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17, 41-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90004-3 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[24] Jensen, M., & Meckling, W. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3, 305-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[25] Lesmond, D. (2005) Liquidity of emerging markets. Journal of Financial Economics, 77, 411-452. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2004.01.005[CrossRef]
[26] Lin, J., Sanger, G., & Booth, G. G. (1995). Trade size and components of the bid ask spread. Review of Financial Studies, 8, 1153-1183. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rfs/8.4.1153 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[27] Triaccaa, U. (2008). Erratum to on the variance of the error associated to the squared return as proxy of volatility. Applied Financial Economics Letters, 4, 417. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17446540701765233 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[28] Venkatesh, P. C., & Chiang, R. (1986). Information asymmetry and the dealer’s bid-ask spread: A case study of earnings and dividend announcements. Journal of Finance, 41, 1089-1102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1986.tb02532.x [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
[29] Wahal, S. (1997). Entry, exit, market makers and the bid-ask spread. The Review of Financial Studies, 10, 871-901. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rfs/10.3.871 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

Copyright © 2026 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.