Order Protection

Action

Order protection, within electronic markets, represents a regulatory requirement designed to prioritize displayed orders over non-displayed, or hidden, orders at the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO). This mechanism aims to enhance price discovery and transparency, ensuring public quotes are executed first. Implementation varies across exchanges and asset classes, but the core principle centers on preventing adverse selection for liquidity providers. Consequently, order protection impacts algorithmic trading strategies, necessitating consideration of order routing and execution venues.