Algorithmic Trading, HFT, and Market Stability

Computerized Trading: Benefits and Risks

Author

Nam Nguyen
July 12, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Advances in computing power, declining hardware costs, and the rapid rise of machine learning and algorithmic trading have fundamentally transformed modern financial markets. While these technologies have improved market efficiency and execution, they have also introduced new challenges and risks.

In this edition, we examine research on the impact of algorithmic trading, from its influence on corporate behavior and stock price crash risk to the role of high-frequency trading in liquidity, volatility, and overall market quality.

In this issue:

Latest Posts

  • The Market Impact of Retail Options Trading (10 min)

  • Why System Validation Matters More Than Ever (10 min)

  • Does Regression Still Work in Modern Markets? (12 min)

  • Volatility Derivatives and VIX Market Dynamics (10 min)

  • Overfitting and Parameter Selection in Trading Strategies (10 min)

How Algorithmic Trading Impacts the Markets

Algorithmic trading is a method of executing trades using algorithms, or sets of predetermined rules, to make trading decisions. These algorithms are designed to take into account a variety of market conditions, such as price, volume, and timing. Algorithmic trading is often used by large institutional investors, such as hedge funds and investment banks, to execute trades quickly and efficiently. Algorithmic trading is also becoming increasingly popular with individual investors who have access to sophisticated trading software.

Algorithmic trading has a number of advantages over traditional methods of trading. First, algorithms can take into account a wider range of market data and make better-informed decisions. Second, algorithms can execute trades faster than humans, which can be especially important in fast-moving markets. Third, algorithmic trading can help to reduce costs by eliminating the need for human traders.

Algorithmic trading has grown enormously in the last two decades to become the dominant type of trading in the capital markets. Reference [1] studies the impact that algorithmic trading has on the markets.

Findings

  • The study examines whether algorithmic trading (AT) increases firm-specific stock price crash risk.

  • The authors argue that the short-term focus of algorithmic traders encourages managers to prioritize short-term earnings and delay the disclosure of bad news.

  • The empirical results show that higher levels of algorithmic trading are associated with greater future stock price crash risk.

  • The study finds that firms with more algorithmic trading are more likely to exhibit opportunistic financial reporting and disclosure practices.

  • The relationship between algorithmic trading and crash risk is stronger when managers have greater incentives or the ability to withhold bad news.

  • The findings suggest that algorithmic trading may reduce monitoring by fundamental investors, allowing bad news to accumulate over time.

  • The results are supported by both instrumental-variable analysis and evidence from the SEC's 2016 Tick Size Pilot Program.

In short, the authors conclude that increased algorithmic trading can contribute to higher firm-specific crash risk, with potentially adverse consequences for shareholders.

Reference

[1] Ahmed, Anwer S. and Li, Yiwen and McMartin, Andrew Stephen and Xu, Nina, The Rise of Machines: Algorithmic Trading and Stock Price Crash Risk, SSRN 4203738

The Role of HFT in Modern Financial Markets

High-frequency trading (HFT) is a type of algorithmic trading that uses computer programs to place orders at very fast speeds. High-frequency traders use sophisticated algorithms to analyze market data and make trades based on their predictions. These traders typically trade in large volumes of shares and use very short-term strategies.

While the previous article examined the broader impact of algorithmic trading on market behavior and stock price crash risk, Reference [2] focuses specifically on high-frequency trading. Rather than analyzing managerial incentives, it investigates how HFT affects market quality, providing direct evidence on its role in liquidity provision, volatility, and overall market efficiency.

Findings

  • The study investigates the impact of high-frequency trading (HFT) by examining a major exchange infrastructure failure that temporarily prevented low-latency trading.

  • The outage provides a natural experiment for assessing the role of HFT in modern financial markets.

  • The authors find that the disruption has only a modest effect on trading volume and the number of trades.

  • However, liquidity deteriorates significantly when high-frequency traders lose low-latency access.

  • Market volatility also increases during the outage, although the effect is less pronounced than the decline in liquidity.

  • The results suggest that investments in HFT infrastructure generate positive spillover benefits for all market participants by improving overall market quality.

  • The findings support earlier research showing that HFT enhances market liquidity and, to a lesser extent, reduces volatility.

The authors conclude that markets remain functional without HFT, but trading becomes more expensive, and market quality deteriorates when high-frequency traders cannot operate at low latency.

Reference

[2] Benjamin Clapham, Martin Haferkorn and Kai Zimmermann, The Impact of High-Frequency Trading on Modern Securities Markets, Bus Inf Syst Eng, 2022

Closing Thoughts

Taken together, these two papers illustrate that algorithmic trading is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful; its impact depends on the aspect of the market being examined. While algorithmic trading may encourage short-term corporate behavior and increase stock price crash risk, high-frequency trading appears to enhance market quality by improving liquidity and reducing transaction costs. As algorithmic trading continues to evolve, understanding its diverse effects on market efficiency, stability, and price formation remains an important area of research.

Additional Reading

For further discussion on algorithmic trading, refer to the previous issues:

Educational Video

Could AI Trigger the Next Financial Crisis? with HEC Professor Thierry Foucault

In this video, Prof. Thierry Foucault explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial markets and asks whether it could contribute to the next financial crisis. Rather than focusing on AI-driven trading strategies, he argues that AI is fundamentally an information-processing technology that is transforming forecasting, investment management, and trading. Drawing on his own research, he shows how alternative data and machine learning have improved short-term forecasting but may also encourage excessive short-termism, potentially reducing investors' focus on long-term corporate fundamentals.

He then examines the risks associated with AI-driven financial markets. These include the displacement of traditional investment professionals, the growing reliance on black-box algorithms, and the possibility that self-learning trading systems could behave in unexpected ways during periods of market stress. While he stops short of predicting that AI will trigger the next financial crisis, he argues that regulators and practitioners should pay close attention to issues such as algorithmic transparency, operational risk, market manipulation, and the balance between human judgment and machine intelligence.

Volatility Weekly Recap

The figure below shows the term structures for the VIX futures (in colour) and the spot VIX (in grey).

Markets remained resilient despite renewed tensions in the US-Iran conflict and growing concerns that interest rates may stay higher for longer. Although geopolitical headlines and hawkish FOMC minutes briefly weighed on sentiment, a rebound in semiconductor stocks and renewed hopes for US-Iran negotiations helped major equity indices finish the week higher.

Outside equities, Treasury yields, and oil prices surged midweek before retreating as geopolitical tensions eased. Gold and cryptocurrencies followed a similar pattern, weakening early in the week before recovering on improving risk sentiment. Investors now turn their attention to the upcoming earnings season, which is expected to be the next major market catalyst.

On the volatility front, despite a modest spike in volatility midweek, both the spot VIX and the VIX futures term structure remained in contango. As the spot VIX continued its downward trend, the spot VIX term structure (not shown) steepened, implying lower forward volatility. Meanwhile, roll yield for short-term VIX futures turned firmly positive again, contributing to a return of -4.13% for VXX.

Around the Quantosphere

  • A Hedge-Fund Trade Blamed for a Massive Market Blowup in 2024 Has Made a Big Comeback, Goldman Sachs Says (morningstar)

  • Going Against the Crowd: Is an AI Hangover Coming? (quoteddata)

  • Quant giant Qube — now managing $50 billion — preps a new unit of human stockpickers (businessinsider)

  • A new wave of AI startups wants to automate hedge funds' secret sauce (businessinsider)

  • Goldman says AI trade reversal pressures hedge fund returns (finance yahoo)

  • China Quant Funds Draw Billions as AI Trounces Human Traders (businesstimes)

  • I Let 31 Algorithms Trade My Roth IRA for Two Years. Here's the Scoreboard (medium)

Disclaimer

This newsletter is not investment advice. It is provided solely for entertainment and educational purposes. Always consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions.

We are not responsible for any outcomes arising from the use of the content and codes provided in the outbound links. By continuing to read this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.