Market Impact

Market impact refers to the effect that a transaction or series of transactions has on the price of a security or asset in a financial market. It typically occurs when a trader buys or sells a large volume of a financial instrument, which can lead to an immediate change in its price due to supply and demand dynamics. The more significant the transaction relative to the overall trading volume of the asset, the greater the market impact is likely to be.

Market impact is a crucial concept for traders and investors, as it can influence their decision-making processes. For example, large institutional investors often seek to minimize market impact to avoid unfavorable price movements when executing trades. Understanding market impact helps investors assess potential costs associated with their trading strategies and make informed decisions regarding the timing and manner of executing trades to mitigate adverse effects on asset prices.

In summary, market impact is a measure of how market transactions affect prices, reflecting the interplay between trading volume and the resulting changes in supply and demand for a security or asset.