Slippage Measurement

Calculation

Slippage measurement, within financial markets, quantifies the difference between an expected trade price and the actual execution price. This discrepancy arises from the price moving during the order’s transmission and execution, particularly prevalent in less liquid markets or during periods of high volatility. Accurate calculation necessitates tracking the mid-price at order submission and comparing it to the average execution price achieved, providing a tangible metric for trade cost. Sophisticated algorithms often incorporate time-weighted average price (TWAP) or volume-weighted average price (VWAP) methodologies to mitigate the impact of transient price fluctuations.