An entropy-based approach to measurement of stock market depth

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate market depth as a stock market liquidity dimension. A new methodology for market depth measurement exactly based on Shannon information entropy for high-frequency data is introduced and utilized. The proposed entropy-based market depth indicator is supported by an algorithm inferring the initiator of a trade. This new indicator seems to be a promising liquidity measure. Both market entropy and market liquidity can be directly measured by the new indicator. The findings of empirical experiments for real-data with a time stamp rounded to the nearest second from the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) confirm that the new proxy enables us to effectively compare market depth and liquidity for different equities. Robustness tests and statistical analyses are conducted. Furthermore, an intra-day seasonality assessment is provided. Results indicate that the entropy-based approach can be considered as an auspicious market depth and liquidity proxy with an intuitive base for both theoretical and empirical analyses in financial markets.