Do (Should) Brokers Route Limit Orders to Options Exchanges That Purchase Order Flow?

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis
Year: 2021
Volume: 56
Issue: 1
Pages: 183-211

Authors (3)

Battalio, Robert (not in RePEc) Griffith, Todd (Utah State University) Van Ness, Robert (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We examine whether options exchanges’ pricing schedules affect broker order routing behavior and limit order execution quality. We find that some brokers seemingly maximize the value of their order flow by selling marketable orders and sending nonmarketable orders to exchanges that offer large liquidity rebates. Other brokers appear to bypass liquidity rebates by routing both marketable and nonmarketable orders to exchanges that purchase order flow. Using a decision by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX) to change its trading protocol, we provide empirical evidence that brokers can enhance limit order execution quality by routing nonmarketable limit orders to options exchanges that purchase order flow.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jfinqa:v:56:y:2021:i:1:p:183-211_7
Journal Field
Finance
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25