First to 'Read' the News: News Analytics and High Frequency Trading

Abstract

We investigate whether providers of news analytics affect the stock market. We exploit a unique identification strategy based on revisions between different product releases of a major provider of news analytics. We document a causal effect of news analytics on the market, irrespective of the informational content of the news. Coverage in news analytics speeds up the market reaction in terms of stock price response and trading volume, but temporarily increases illiquidity and can result in temporary price distortions that might increase volatility and reduce market stability. Furthermore, we document that traders learn dynamically about the precision of news analytics.

Keywords: Liquidity, Stock Price Reaction, News Analytics, Information, High Frequency Trading

JEL Classification: G10, G12, G14