What Is Program Trading?

Program trading, in its simplest form, involves the utilization of computer-generated algorithms to execute trades involving a basket of stocks, often in significant volumes and at high frequencies. While these algorithms are initiated and monitored by humans, once activated, the programs autonomously execute trades. However, human intervention remains possible, allowing traders to adjust or halt the program as necessary.

Key Takeaways:

• Program trading employs computer-generated algorithms for large-volume and high-frequency stock trading.
• The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) defines program trading as the purchase or sale of 15 or more stocks with a total market value of $1 million or more, executed as part of a coordinated trading strategy.
• In 2021, program trading accounted for 70% to 80% of all U.S. stock market trades during a typical trading day, rising to above 90% during periods of extreme market volatility.

Understanding Program Trading

The NYSE officially defines program trading as the purchase or sale of a group of 15 or more stocks that have a total market value of $1 million or more. These trades are executed as part of a coordinated trading strategy and are sometimes referred to as portfolio trading or basket trading.

Program trading is characterized by orders placed directly in the market, executed based on predetermined instructions set by the trading algorithms. For instance, a trading algorithm might purchase a portfolio of 50 stocks over the first hour of the trading day. Institutional investors, such as hedge fund managers and mutual fund traders, employ program trading to execute large-volume trades efficiently. This simultaneous order placement helps mitigate risk and can capitalize on market inefficiencies. Executing a significant number of orders manually would be far less efficient.

In 2018, program trading represented 50% to 60% of all stock market trades on a typical trading day. As of 2021, this figure increased to 70% to 80% during a regular trading day, surging to over 90% during periods of heightened market volatility.

Program trading has benefited from various developments in the investment landscape, including the recognition that trading a diversified portfolio can reduce inherent investment risks, the fact that institutions hold and trade a larger portion of equities than ever before, and technological advancements that have lowered trading costs.

However, program trading has faced criticism for contributing to extreme market volatility, particularly during market crashes in the 1980s and 90s. In response, the NYSE introduced rules, often referred to as trading curbs or circuit breakers, to restrict program trades during certain times and mitigate market turbulence.

According to NYSE rules, depending on the severity of price movements, program trading may be halted entirely or limited to trading on upticks.

Program Trading Purpose

Program trading serves several purposes, including principal trading, agency trading, and basis trading.

• Principal trading: Brokerage firms may utilize program trading to purchase a portfolio of stocks under their own account, anticipating an increase in their value. They may subsequently sell these stocks to customers to earn a commission, with the strategy's success hinging on the brokerage firm's ability to select winning stocks.

• Agency trading: Investment management firms trading exclusively for clients may use program trading to buy stocks that align with the firm's model portfolio. These shares are allocated to customer accounts after purchase. Fund managers may also employ program trading for rebalancing purposes, adjusting stock holdings to realign portfolios with their target allocations.

• Basis trading: Program trading can exploit mispricings among similar securities. Investment managers may buy undervalued stocks and short overpriced ones. For instance, a manager could short a group of semiconductor stocks considered overvalued while purchasing a basket of hardware stocks perceived as undervalued. Profits arise when the prices of these securities converge.

Program Trading Example

To illustrate the concept, consider a hedge fund managing a portfolio of 20 stocks, with each stock allocated 5% of the total portfolio value. At the end of each month, the fund aims to rebalance the portfolio, ensuring that each stock represents 5%. This entails selling stocks with allocations above 5% and buying those with allocations below 5%.

Assume the portfolio's total value is $10 million. If one of the stocks, like Apple Inc. (AAPL), appreciates in value while the rest remain steady, it may lead to an over-allocation in the portfolio. In this case, a program trading algorithm can swiftly rebalance the portfolio by executing the necessary trades, selling AAPL shares to reduce its allocation back to 5%.

Program trading's automated approach is particularly beneficial when multiple stocks are in constant flux. It can rapidly adjust allocations, maintain balance, and exploit market opportunities that would be challenging to manage manually.

In summary, program trading represents a dynamic and technology-driven approach to stock market trading. Its significance and prevalence in modern financial markets continue to grow, with institutions and investors leveraging it for various purposes, from risk management to capitalizing on market inefficiencies. This strategy showcases the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets and their increasing reliance on technology for efficiency and precision.

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