Competition and Information Leakage

May 17, 2024

Working Paper No. 00096-01

information design price impact over-the-counter (OTC) markets request for quotes (RFQ) counterparty search front-running trading platform design

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When seeking to trade in over-the-counter markets, institutional investors typically restrict both the number of potential counterparties they contact and the information they disclose (e.g., by requesting two-sided rather than one-sided quotes). We rationalize these important facts in a model featuring endogenous front-running. Although an additional contact intensifies competition and aids in finding a natural counterparty, it also intensifies information leakage—which can be costly if it helps a losing dealer to front-run. We also address information design: the client optimally provides no information about her trading direction when requesting quotes. We conclude with implications for market design and regulation.


Markus Baldauf

Markus Baldauf

University of British Columbia

Joshua Mollner

Joshua Mollner

Northwestern University