September 2, 2014
The negative comments regarding the pilot program recently submitted
do not understand the reason for the pilot program. This program only
effects a select group of small-cap stocks to test if greater trading
liquidity through larger spreads will attract meaningful institutional
investor ownership and thus increase capital formation. Detractors are
reacting as if this program will turn the existing market structure
for all stocks on it's head. Truth is, they will not be effected.
Wider spreads makes market making profitable. I believe that any
entity willing to risk capital making markets should be rewarded with
a reasonable return for risk. In turn you will see more depth and
liquidity in these stocks which will in turn attract more investors
and traders into these stocks which will again increase depth and
liquidity. In the long run, larger tick sizes will strengthen stocks
and their underlying companies.
On a side note, It was never proven that the "optimal price spread"
was a penny when the markets went to decimalization. The penny spread
also had an unforeseen and dire consequence: the rise of the algo and
the death of the human trading element. Trading volume across the
board has collapsed. Today's market is no more than predatory algo's
feeding off each other.