Efficient Estimation of Bid-Ask Spreads from Open, High, Low, and Close Prices

This paper formally derives an efficient estimator of the bid-ask spread from open, high, low, and close prices. The estimator is asymptotically unbiased and optimally combines the full set of price data to minimize the estimation variance. In absence of quote data, it delivers the most accurate estimates of bid-ask spreads theoretically, numerically, and empirically. The estimator is easy to calculate and has a broad applicability in empirical finance. We discuss implications for applied research.

Keywords: bid-ask spread, transaction costs, asset pricing, trading frictions, market liquidity

JEL Classification: C10, C13, G12, G14

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Ardia, David and Guidotti, Emanuele and Kroencke, Tim Alexander, Efficient Estimation of Bid-Ask Spreads from Open, High, Low, and Close Prices (July 23, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3892335 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3892335