Trading Mechanisms in Securities Markets

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes price formation under two trading mechanisms: a continuous quote‐driven system where dealers post prices before order submission and an order‐driven system where traders submit orders before prices are determined. The order‐driven system operates either as a continuous auction , with immediate order execution, or as a periodic auction , where orders are stored for simultaneous execution. With free entry into market making, the continuous systems are equivalent. While a periodic auction offers greater price efficiency and can function where continuous mechanisms fail, traders must sacrifice continuity and bear higher information costs.