Nanex Research

Nanex ~ 13-Feb-2014 ~ HFT Quote Spammer Redux

Update August 14, 2014

The spammer responsible for the onslaught of bogus quotes has been identified and fined. According to Nasdaq, the culprit was Citadel. Citadel again! (we just wrote about another incident involving Citadel last week).

The date of the Nasdaq document naming Citadel as the offender is June 16, 2014 - which is almost 2 months ago. The question we have, since this hasn't been reported:

where have all the financial reporters gone?

The second question we have:

why is that paragraph (image above) missing from FINRA's document of the same events?

Read the rest of this update (too much to fit here).

During regular market trading hours on February 13, 2014, we found 633 extreme high frequency trading (HFT) quote spamming events. We define an event when 1 symbol has 6,000 or more quotes and less than 300 trades in 1 second of time. Events like these are rare, usually only a few appear in a trading day. There were 633 such events on February 13.

In the 135 affected symbols, there was a total of 11.2 million quotes during the events compared to 100 million quotes over the entire trading day. Which means that 11.3% of these symbol's quotes were from a HFT quote spamming algo.  In some stocks, the percentage of HFT quote spam was much higher: in 12 stocks it was over 50%.

The first event appeared at 13:31:17 and the last event at 15:27:00. The highest number of quotes in one symbol in one second was 37,306. Because several seconds had more than 1 symbol meeting the criteria, the highest quote spam during 1 second was 58,902 quotes.

The chart below shows other instances of high quote spamming events (more than 6,000 quotes in 1 stock in 1 second) for all NMS stocks since 2009. The dots are sized to the number of quotes in an event second. The red color indicates when the number of quotes in a second exceeded 25,000.

See this page for more details.

Percent Spam11.3%
Spam Quotes11,263,962
Total Quotes99,928,706
Peak Second58,902
Peak 1-Symbol Second37,306
Events633
Symbols135
First Event13:31:17
Last Event15:27:00
Listed ExgSymbol%SpamSpam QuotesTotal QuotesMax SecondSecondsFirstLastTradesTotal Trades%Trades
NYSEABT44.0%450,9071,025,48837,2711714:35:2815:01:584637,1370.1%
NYSEABX0.4%7,0931,890,3007,093114:19:0114:19:016786,6250.1%
NQ-GMACTG61.6%79,626129,18824,862514:51:4014:51:4463,0330.2%
NYSEAEE18.3%49,173268,75836,122314:50:1814:50:20210,3170.0%
NYSEAEP7.6%38,637510,09622,305314:29:5615:20:492617,5530.1%
NYSEAIG8.1%56,871699,41530,944314:31:3714:31:501648,5940.0%
NYSEAMTD47.0%333,461710,19637,3061113:51:1614:19:053218,8360.2%
NQ-GMAPOL35.8%135,489377,94334,4701115:06:3915:22:392613,5820.2%
NYSEATI42.7%163,786383,80036,389613:33:4613:37:552914,5330.2%
NYSEBAX40.4%126,453313,19334,603513:57:5313:57:571115,9540.1%
NYSEBCE80.5%627,679779,33722,1873214:55:2514:56:4824,5780.0%
NYSEBMR15.6%21,523137,84113,087214:37:2715:07:15635,8391.1%
NYSEBRFS13.5%32,568240,36019,839213:39:5413:39:55010,2480.0%
NQ-GMBRKR61.9%106,039171,35228,951615:01:5815:02:0424,7250.0%
NYSEBVN18.0%42,962238,10815,538415:01:4615:03:232212,8070.2%
NYSECBS24.3%217,723894,44029,1741213:55:2115:23:0611871,9870.2%
NQ-GMCDNS17.9%37,444209,75916,191314:58:4814:58:508710,1020.9%
NYSECHK1.3%7,259578,5587,259113:46:5813:46:581740,7010.0%
NQ-GMCMCSA1.9%70,6713,696,63716,611713:58:5515:08:05235357,1820.1%
NQ-GMCMCSK10.2%103,3231,015,68224,766714:07:3215:05:1530456,0750.5%
NYSECNX8.0%20,796260,56811,487215:23:3915:23:40817,1720.0%
NYSECOG2.7%14,447536,49914,447115:09:5615:09:561249,8860.0%
NYSECPB6.2%11,587188,35811,587115:01:4015:01:40116,6170.0%
NYSECPN32.5%253,712779,87029,4831014:25:5314:46:1910646,8610.2%
NQ-GMCSCO1.7%28,6571,671,95428,657114:23:2314:23:238296,7090.0%
NYSECTL1.3%7,389552,2737,389113:31:1713:31:1713764,9510.2%
NQ-GMCTRP12.6%69,912552,97826,726315:24:3015:24:324124,0300.0%
NYSECUBE20.6%27,947135,71627,947114:16:1814:16:1806,4420.0%
NYSECVS18.3%148,216809,68932,036614:14:5814:19:151736,1020.0%
NYSECVX28.2%517,7791,837,25137,1201714:51:0515:23:16236,6430.0%
NYSECX6.4%45,191704,28718,164313:45:5113:45:53327,7330.0%
NYSEDG28.9%85,583295,82828,143514:44:4415:27:006227,2770.2%
NYSEDHI1.1%6,550577,7936,550114:52:2314:52:23730,0400.0%
NYSEDO20.5%34,741169,72914,400314:59:3715:08:061314,0130.1%
NYSEDPS14.5%29,146201,11329,146114:46:3814:46:38221,9750.0%
NQ-GMEBAY3.5%39,5411,126,28821,778313:47:5214:52:395761,1030.1%
NYSEENI34.8%50,607145,45732,280214:59:5714:59:5813,8600.0%
NY-ArcaEWZ3.1%55,8401,783,17125,320314:06:0914:06:1417859,5690.3%
NYSEEXC3.0%13,193437,66013,193114:44:2414:44:2419438,8370.5%
NQ-GMFAST31.2%66,486212,80118,574615:16:4415:16:49315,1880.0%
NY-ArcaFEZ15.8%71,004450,80932,593315:20:1815:20:20674,8231.4%
NYSEFIG11.3%10,91596,32110,915114:17:0914:17:09713,9300.1%
NYSEFIO13.3%20,880157,00220,880115:17:0415:17:0406,3290.0%
NQ-GMFOX1.4%6,357451,0316,357114:27:5514:27:552925,9630.1%
NQ-GMFOXA2.1%15,746759,3879,456214:17:5914:18:001363,1120.0%
NQ-GMFTNT58.9%244,950416,16018,8631714:17:2615:07:537712,9100.6%
NQ-GMFULT7.2%6,48890,1286,488113:52:0713:52:0714,7030.0%
NY-ArcaFXI4.9%53,9781,092,37519,102314:41:5114:41:5315049,4290.3%
NQ-GMGILD1.0%7,046700,9517,046114:11:1014:11:10158,1680.0%
NYSEGM1.2%16,8741,355,96416,874114:02:3214:02:328399,3820.1%
NYSEGME5.4%14,951278,84614,951114:35:1114:35:112623,2790.1%
NYSEGPS18.5%124,265673,52119,955914:11:3315:26:13827,5440.0%
NQ-GMGT3.3%28,175843,73018,122214:25:1714:25:18288,0030.0%
NQ-GMHA11.5%12,670110,19012,670114:05:1914:05:19124,6360.3%
NYSEHAL0.9%10,3671,205,58010,367114:23:5014:23:50244,4540.0%
NYSEHD35.8%339,212948,30530,0371613:59:0014:37:561642,5300.0%
NYSEHES28.5%115,912406,58928,214514:55:2314:55:271317,9900.1%
NQ-GMHOLX31.6%95,846303,65222,158515:00:0015:16:361817,9060.1%
NQ-GMHTLD57.6%95,187165,35925,630614:32:0414:32:0914,7860.0%
NYSEHTZ1.2%7,552639,6377,552114:28:2214:28:223540,5840.1%
NYSEHUN15.8%86,762550,77523,934513:35:1515:03:52124,8870.0%
NQ-GMINTC1.2%7,632624,4737,632113:45:2413:45:243375,0290.0%
NY-ArcaITB1.8%8,083439,6638,083113:58:0413:58:044812,2210.4%
NYSEIVZ5.4%21,017392,49721,017114:52:2514:52:25018,5200.0%
NY-ArcaIWM1.5%76,1545,102,45819,538713:46:4514:34:13141133,8720.1%
NQ-GMJASO59.6%148,855249,94518,638914:27:2314:27:3937,4310.0%
NYSEJBL31.5%116,385369,78117,024915:06:0915:08:17311,8490.0%
NQ-GMLKQ56.0%175,718313,73120,8781013:57:3915:20:503314,3350.2%
NQ-GMLLTC35.1%150,238428,31126,7021113:35:2014:52:4613921,2420.7%
NYSELPX18.4%121,770661,56032,166713:56:1314:19:537942,1500.2%
NQ-GMLRCX8.3%16,887202,35516,887114:46:5514:46:55026,2060.0%
NYSELUK10.0%14,630146,35214,630115:26:5015:26:5017,5890.0%
NQ-GMLULU28.0%66,234236,73223,953314:03:5614:03:58227,0670.0%
NYSELVLT17.4%36,361209,48024,665214:51:1214:51:132113,9230.2%
NYSEM4.6%16,986369,16616,986115:00:5515:00:551615,8940.1%
NYSEMBI22.6%101,281448,14621,147714:00:3014:05:293022,2030.1%
NYSEMCD14.5%77,339532,09330,298314:52:2814:52:30527,2180.0%
NQ-GMMENT11.0%10,83198,10410,831113:51:2413:51:2415,2880.0%
NYSEMET3.9%20,445519,03720,445114:57:3214:57:32139,8970.0%
NYSEMHR52.2%195,564374,46317,6581313:41:1814:39:27659,2070.7%
NYSEMOS4.4%21,998500,70614,194214:33:5515:11:24322,7810.0%
NYSEMS2.5%31,0251,248,77719,036214:52:2314:52:242067,9280.0%
NYSENBR5.4%25,944482,97410,986313:53:4514:40:499425,4180.4%
NYSENEM4.7%29,553624,89713,950314:17:2214:34:271254,1750.0%
NYSENFX8.2%23,536288,2879,065313:58:0414:42:266519,4400.3%
NYSENLSN34.1%143,276420,36030,286614:04:0914:04:14919,7360.0%
NYSENOK11.0%44,745406,89429,257214:21:2314:21:245929,8260.2%
NYSENRG36.4%214,929590,35824,1461314:04:0014:52:2414124,3230.6%
NQ-GMNTAP20.6%153,364745,56624,8371014:05:2015:26:0514466,7640.2%
NYSENWL3.3%7,014209,5837,014115:05:3415:05:341212,1340.1%
NY-ArcaOEF13.9%66,070476,40429,674314:40:4414:40:4663,1540.2%
NYSEPBI2.6%9,377363,8849,377115:23:0015:23:002617,6190.1%
NQ-GMPDCO60.0%117,520195,71920,322814:18:5414:57:24378,1190.5%
NQ-GMPENN77.9%254,477326,47317,6301613:32:4913:33:04128,6000.1%
NYSEPEP7.9%61,377776,31920,047413:51:1915:14:544770,0220.1%
NYSEPIR9.9%9,64097,8079,640114:00:5314:00:53427,0970.6%
NQ-GMQCOM17.2%274,1721,597,65129,9991513:49:2314:59:575049,1850.1%
NY-ArcaQLD0.4%9,3792,551,6329,379114:28:3314:28:333019,2680.2%
NQ-GMQQQ0.3%17,0175,404,39017,017114:03:3914:03:39171,2210.0%
NYSERAD27.6%137,723498,62930,472615:05:3715:05:4215929,5690.5%
NQ-GMROST9.0%17,801198,83010,331213:57:3913:57:41312,0870.0%
NQ-GMRRD53.1%164,420309,90729,508714:32:0314:53:067811,6230.7%
NQ-GMSBUX6.3%36,118571,98021,914213:59:4313:59:44131,3670.0%
NYSESCI4.5%14,095311,59214,095114:05:0714:05:072519,9670.1%
NQ-GMSCSS18.8%25,216134,05813,689214:13:5614:13:5715,8570.0%
NYSESDRL8.5%28,927340,25121,519214:42:3514:42:361425,5460.1%
NYSESE53.3%384,239720,80229,8981514:09:0314:09:24715,4930.0%
NYSESLB9.0%97,2071,085,24525,758714:51:4515:26:291133,8930.0%
NYSESLW2.1%20,135947,10411,907213:41:3814:12:001629,4080.1%
NQ-GMSNTA8.6%10,878126,68810,878113:53:3113:53:313410,4230.3%
NYSESO6.1%22,779374,94915,502214:52:4014:52:41025,6440.0%
NY-ArcaSPY0.1%15,12510,237,7918,269214:30:4915:15:2365277,3150.0%
NYSEST22.3%30,433136,43919,119215:24:5915:25:00308,5510.4%
NYSESUNE30.3%153,971507,41324,1961113:48:0914:00:073639,7150.1%
NYSESWC35.5%71,343201,01927,523414:30:4814:30:5166,3870.1%
NYSESWFT27.8%83,158299,19116,318714:29:0015:07:085217,8420.3%
NYSETJX2.0%9,320462,1429,320113:59:0013:59:00222,0400.0%
NYSETLM9.6%29,450305,21719,947215:01:1715:01:182110,2730.2%
NYSETSN11.0%38,831353,18720,663314:26:0014:52:424624,4750.2%
NYSETWX22.8%134,910592,18528,410715:15:5915:26:52534,3360.0%
NYSEUDR63.3%527,983834,55029,4002214:27:2314:56:1314613,1371.1%
NYSEUN10.2%35,521347,22820,668213:32:1513:32:3205,8590.0%
NQ-GMURBN34.2%78,328229,28021,830514:08:2414:08:282411,6930.2%
NYSEUSB1.0%7,758746,4987,758114:28:3514:28:35024,5250.0%
NYSEVLO7.7%45,673592,81222,338314:55:3715:06:492445,1110.1%
NY-ArcaVNQ7.8%48,948625,82016,511315:02:2215:02:24015,0020.0%
NY-ArcaVXX1.2%36,5533,158,14219,164215:12:3315:12:3472142,4050.1%
NYSEWAG4.3%35,581818,08019,299215:20:2115:20:225666,8010.1%
NQ-GMWETF19.1%40,985214,46918,828314:49:3115:10:503613,9930.3%
NQ-GMWOOF61.9%120,709194,90335,796614:55:1514:56:25146,3070.2%
NY-ArcaXHB2.0%17,790899,55817,790114:19:4114:19:4148,6740.0%
NY-ArcaXLE0.7%17,0102,431,58210,891214:52:2314:52:242543,0490.1%
NY-ArcaXLI4.4%69,3131,563,07018,721513:39:5414:21:382030,3270.1%
NQ-GMXOMA51.2%129,124252,18717,849814:28:2214:28:2914,3410.0%
NQ-GMZNGA2.6%8,640332,8348,640115:01:0215:01:02452,8970.0%