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Market Microstructure

Marco Pagano

Within this course you will learn about price formation and liquidity in securities markets. You will discover the determinants of market depth and security trading. In particular, the course focuses on price formation and liquidity in securities markets. The main issues covered are how to measure trading costs; how security prices, their liquidity and speed of price discovery are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices; what are the determinants of market depth; how security trading is organized and regulated and how it has been reshaped by algorithmic and high frequency trading; how the organization of security trading affects trading costs and informational efficiency.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Basics
This module presents the subject of the course and its main concepts: liquidity and price discovery, and basic notions of trading in securities markets.
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Measuring liquidity
In this week you will learn that some trading costs are explicit, others implicit, and how to measure trading costs using different types of data. Furthermore, you will learn how to take the time dimension of trading into account.
Price dynamics and Liquidity (part 1)
This module talks about price formation in markets with asymmetric information. You’ll understand why in these markets prices respond to the order flow and you’ll know how the informativeness of the order flow affects market liquidity and price discovery.
Price dynamics and Liquidity (part 2)
In this week we’ll talk about frictions that contribute to the bid-ask spread and generate mean reversion in prices and you’ll learn about order processing costs. Moreover, you’ll know the imperfect competition among market makers and how inventory holding costs of risk-averse dealers.
Trade side and Market Depth
This week will explain how orders of different sizes have a different impact on prices and how price impact is an inverse measure of market depth. You’ll learn that depth is affected by order flow informativeness, market risk absorption capacity and competition between liquidity suppliers.
Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading
By the end of this week, you will learn the fundamentals of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, their impact on market quality, and explore policies to mitigate trading speed effects.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores security trading, which is a fundamental part of finance
Examines how liquidity affects price discovery, which is essential for transparent and efficient markets
Taught by Marco Pagano, a recognized expert in the field of securities markets
Develops understanding of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, which are shaping the future of financial markets
May require some background in finance or economics for full comprehension

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Activities

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Career center

Learners who complete Market Microstructure will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Quantitative Researcher
Quantitative researchers are responsible for developing and implementing mathematical models to help investment firms make better decisions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as measuring trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a quantitative researcher.
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio managers are responsible for managing the investments of individuals and institutions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a portfolio manager.
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts are responsible for providing investment advice to individuals and institutions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a financial analyst.
Risk Manager
Risk managers are responsible for identifying and managing risks for financial institutions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a risk manager.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers are responsible for advising companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and other financial transactions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as an investment banker.
Trader
Traders are responsible for buying and selling securities for their own account or for the account of their clients. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a trader.
High-Frequency Trader
High-frequency traders are responsible for trading securities at very high speeds. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a high-frequency trader.
Algorithmic Trader
Algorithmic traders are responsible for developing and implementing computer programs that trade securities. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as an algorithmic trader.
Financial Economist
Financial economists are responsible for conducting research on financial markets and institutions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a financial economist.
Market Regulator
Market regulators are responsible for regulating the securities markets. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a market regulator.
Market Microstructure Academic
Market microstructure academics are responsible for teaching and conducting research on the structure and function of financial markets. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a market microstructure academic.
Financial Journalist
Financial journalists are responsible for writing about financial markets and institutions. This course provides a strong foundation in the concepts of price formation and liquidity in securities markets, which are essential for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a financial journalist.
Economist
Economists are responsible for conducting research on economic issues. This course may be useful for economists who want to specialize in financial economics. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as an economist specializing in financial economics.
Computer Scientist
Computer scientists are responsible for designing and developing computer software. This course may be useful for computer scientists who want to specialize in financial computing. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a computer scientist specializing in financial computing.
Statistician
Statisticians are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course may be useful for statisticians who want to specialize in financial statistics. The course covers topics such as how to measure trading costs, how security prices and liquidity are jointly determined, and how order flow affects prices. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you to succeed as a statistician specializing in financial statistics.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Market Microstructure.
A classic in the field. Introduces the academic basics of market microstructure. Good as a supplementary text that can be kept as a reference.
A textbook that provides a comprehensive overview of the microstructure of financial markets and securities. Will be useful to those who want to learn more about the different aspects of the field.
Classic in the field of market microstructure, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject, including historical developments and empirical findings.
A practical guide to trading and exchanges. Provides a good overview of the different types of markets and the different trading strategies that can be used. Will be useful to those who want to learn more about the practical aspects of market microstructure.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the research on market microstructure, with a focus on the latest developments in this field.

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