Timing is Money: Limit Order Cancellation and Investment Performance

61 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2024

See all articles by Weiyu Kuo

Weiyu Kuo

National Chengchi University (NCCU) - Department of International Business

Tse-Chun Lin

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Business and Economics

Jing Zhao

Hong Kong Polytechnic University - School of Accounting and Finance

Date Written: June 24, 2024

Abstract

A limit order executes only if the price moves against the order. To mitigate this limit order pick-off risk, investors can monitor the execution process and cancel their unexecuted stale orders in time. We propose an investor-level indicator for the susceptibility to the stale limit order risk using the average time interval from limit order submission and cancellation. The time-to-cancellation is related to cognitive ability, trading experience, and other behavioral biases, such as the disposition effect. Investor-level time-to-cancellation is negatively associated with their limit order performance. Individual investors may earn higher returns if they cancel the stalest limit orders early or if their canceled orders were successfully executed at the market price prevailing at either the time of submission or cancellation. 

Keywords: Pick-off risk, limit orders, individual investors, investment performance JEL Classifications: G02

Suggested Citation

Kuo, Weiyu and Lin, Tse-Chun and Zhao, Jing,

Timing is Money: Limit Order Cancellation and Investment Performance

(June 24, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4874217 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4874217

Weiyu Kuo

National Chengchi University (NCCU) - Department of International Business ( email )

Taipei City
Taiwan

Tse-Chun Lin

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Business and Economics ( email )

Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
China

Jing Zhao (Contact Author)

Hong Kong Polytechnic University - School of Accounting and Finance ( email )

Hung Hom
Kowloon
Hong Kong

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