Short-term market reaction after extreme price changes of liquid stocks

In our empirical study we examine the dynamics of the price evolution of liquid stocks after experiencing a large intra-day price change, using data from the NYSE and the NASDAQ. We find a significant reversal for both intra-day price decreases and increases. Volatility, volume and, in the case of the NYSE, the bid-ask spread, which increase sharply at the event, stay significantly high days afterwards. The decay of the volatility follows a power law in accordance with the 'Omori law'. While on the NYSE the large widening of the bid-ask spread eliminates most of the profits that can be achieved by an outside investor, on the NASDAQ the bid-ask spread stays almost constant, yielding significant short-term profits. The results thus give an insight into the size and speed of the realization of an excess return for providing liquidity in a turbulent market.