The Predictive Power of Limit Order Book for Future Volatility, Trade Price, and Speed of Trading

Abstract

We investigate the information content of the limit order book (LOB) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the world’s second largest order-driven exchange1. Microstructure parameters, such as the current cost-to-trade 1% of average daily volume and order book slope, consistently and significantly predict future price volatility, trade prices, and speed of trading. The shape of the LOB on the bid side carries more predictive power than that on the ask side. We also document that the average trade size is the driving force in the standard volume-volatility relationship.

Keywords: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Future trade prices, volatility, trading speed