The Game of Ticks: A Guide to Tick Size Regime Changes

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In the great game of markets, where fortunes rise and fall like the houses of Westeros, there exists a set of rules so fundamental and yet so widely ignored that even Cersei Lannister would be impressed by the collective denial. I speak, of course, of tick size regimes — the minimum price increments at which a security may be quoted.

Think of tick sizes as the width of the steps on the Iron Throne. Too wide, and only giants can climb them. Too narrow, and you've got a thousand High Sparrows jostling for position on a staircase made for ants. The exchange, playing the role of a slightly more competent Small Council than the one in King's Landing, periodically adjusts these steps to keep the realm in order.

What Is a Tick Size, and Why Should You Care?

Every stock on a European exchange is assigned to a Liquidity Band (LB1 through LB6, roughly speaking). The band determines the minimum price increment — the smallest amount by which the bid or ask can move. A stock in LB1 has wide ticks, like a drawbridge that only opens fully or stays shut. A stock in LB6 has tick sizes so fine that a Faceless Man could slip between the quotes unnoticed.

The assignment isn't arbitrary, though it sometimes feels that way. It's based on two things: the stock's price level and its average daily trading volume. More liquid stocks get tighter ticks. Less liquid ones get wider ticks. It's like Tywin Lannister's philosophy of governance: you reward the productive and constrain the troublesome.

Why Do They Change?

Every quarter, the exchanges review their tick tables. Stocks that have grown more liquid — perhaps because a dragon just torched their sector into relevance — get promoted to tighter bands. The spread narrows, more price levels become available, and market makers rejoice like Tyrion at a vineyard.

Conversely, stocks that have dried up like the Dornish water supply get moved to wider bands. This isn't punishment; it's mercy. When nobody's trading, having a thousand price levels just means a thousand empty chairs at a feast no one attends. Wider ticks concentrate liquidity, making it easier to actually execute a trade rather than staring at a book thinner than Joffrey's list of friends.

What "Tighter" and "Wider" Mean for You

TIGHTER (moving to a higher LB number) means the minimum increment shrinks. Your limit orders can be placed with more precision. Spreads may narrow. This is generally good news — it's the market equivalent of being invited to sit closer to the head of the table.

WIDER (moving to a lower LB number) means the opposite. The tick size increases, spreads may widen, and your ability to snipe a specific price level diminishes. Think of it as being moved from the royal chambers to a room above the stables. You're still in the castle, but the view isn't as good.

"When you play the game of ticks, you either get tighter or you get wider. There is no middle ground." — Attributed to no one in particular, but it sounds like something Littlefinger would say while adjusting his spreadsheet.

The Practical Bit

If you trade any of the stocks in the list below, take note. Your limit orders placed before the effective date will still stand, but the price grid beneath them will shift. A limit buy at 31.70 on THEON.AS — yes, that Theon — currently sits on a 0.05 grid. Come April 6th, it moves to a 0.02 grid. Theon, as usual, is being subjected to tighter constraints, and as usual, he didn't get a say in the matter.

The London changes take effect April 1st (fitting, perhaps). All other markets shift on April 6th. Review your resting orders accordingly. And remember: in the game of tick sizes, the house — or rather, the exchange — always wins.

Upcoming Changes

The following stocks will see their tick size regime change. Click on a market to expand the list.

Amsterdam (AS) — 5 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
ALFENWIDER0.00200.00508.84LB5→LB4
ENVITIGHTER0.01000.00504.64LB2→LB3
PHARMTIGHTER0.00100.00051.35LB4→LB5
THEONTIGHTER0.05000.020031.70LB3→LB4
WKLTIGHTER0.02000.010066.42LB5→LB6
Brussels (BR) — 10 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
BIOSWIDER0.00010.00020.00LB3→LB2
BTLSTIGHTER0.01000.00502.56LB2→LB3
CENERTIGHTER0.02000.010018.42LB3→LB4
ECONBWIDER0.00200.00501.47LB3→LB2
EKOPTIGHTER0.02000.01005.52LB2→LB3
EXMWIDER0.01000.02009.91LB3→LB2
IMMOWIDER0.05000.100023.50LB3→LB2
SOLVWIDER0.20000.500066.80LB2→LB1
SYENSWIDER0.01000.020044.02LB5→LB4
TITCTIGHTER0.05000.020043.90LB3→LB4
TUBTIGHTER0.50000.2000216.50LB3→LB4
Zurich (CH) — 1 change, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
AMSWIDER0.01000.02008.36LB3→LB2
Copenhagen (CO) — 3 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
BAVAWIDER0.05000.1000182.15LB5→LB4
ROVTIGHTER0.20000.100048.60LB1→LB2
TRMD-AWIDER0.05000.1000160.85LB5→LB4
Frankfurt (DE) — 26 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
2GBTIGHTER0.05000.020033.95LB3→LB4
AAGWIDER0.02000.050013.78LB3→LB2
BDTWIDER0.02000.050017.60LB3→LB2
BFSAWIDER0.02000.050028.42LB4→LB3
CEKTIGHTER0.05000.020011.70LB2→LB3
DICWIDER0.00200.00501.49LB3→LB2
EVTWIDER0.00100.00204.22LB5→LB4
HAGTIGHTER0.05000.010082.50LB4→LB6
HDDTIGHTER0.00200.00101.33LB3→LB4
HRPKWIDER0.00200.00501.63LB3→LB2
IBE1TIGHTER0.00500.002019.75LB5→LB6
IOSTIGHTER0.05000.020022.02LB3→LB4
IXXTIGHTER0.10000.050044.80LB2→LB3
KGXTIGHTER0.02000.010045.78LB4→LB5
LPKWIDER0.01000.02006.65LB3→LB2
MS51WIDER0.01000.020027.49LB5→LB4
OHBTIGHTER1.00000.5000246.00LB2→LB3
PCZTIGHTER0.02000.01008.02LB2→LB3
PTPWIDER0.00200.00501.95LB3→LB2
QH9TIGHTER0.00200.00108.77LB5→LB6
SAXTIGHTER0.05000.020031.70LB3→LB4
SURWIDER0.05000.100011.70LB2→LB1
SZUWIDER0.01000.020010.09LB4→LB3
TKATIGHTER0.00200.00107.70LB5→LB6
TTR1TIGHTER0.10000.050025.40LB2→LB3
VOSTIGHTER0.10000.050070.40LB3→LB4
Helsinki (HE) — 16 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
ATRAVTIGHTER0.05000.020018.55LB2→LB3
CANATUTIGHTER0.02000.01007.68LB2→LB3
CTY1SWIDER0.00200.00503.76LB4→LB3
HEALTHWIDER0.00200.00501.46LB3→LB2
HKFOODTIGHTER0.00500.00201.84LB2→LB3
MANTAWIDER0.00200.00506.72LB5→LB4
METSOWIDER0.00500.010015.38LB5→LB4
MODUWIDER0.00200.00501.10LB3→LB2
NESTEWIDER0.00500.010027.07LB6→LB5
PIHLISTIGHTER0.05000.020012.90LB2→LB3
PUUILOWIDER0.01000.020011.91LB4→LB3
SSH1VTIGHTER0.01000.00502.22LB2→LB3
VALMTWIDER0.01000.020026.51LB5→LB4
VERKTIGHTER0.01000.00503.51LB2→LB3
YITWIDER0.00200.00502.61LB4→LB3
London (LO) — 62 changes, effective Apr 1
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
888WIDER0.02000.050027.15LB4→LB3
ABDNWIDER0.10000.2000205.00LB5→LB4
ADMWIDER1.00002.00003268.00LB5→LB4
ADVTTIGHTER1.00000.5000164.00LB1→LB2
AJBTIGHTER0.50000.2000445.40LB3→LB4
ALLWIDER0.02000.050014.25LB3→LB2
ALTNTIGHTER10.00005.00001130.00LB1→LB2
ASCWIDER0.20000.5000228.00LB4→LB3
ASLITIGHTER0.10000.050026.75LB2→LB3
BGEOTIGHTER10.00005.00009790.00LB3→LB4
BGEUWIDER0.10000.200098.60LB3→LB2
BIOGWIDER2.00005.00001235.00LB3→LB2
BKGTIGHTER2.00001.00003668.00LB4→LB5
BMYTIGHTER2.00001.0000574.00LB2→LB3
BOYTIGHTER1.00000.5000642.50LB3→LB4
BREETIGHTER0.50000.2000339.60LB3→LB4
BUTTIGHTER5.00002.00001406.00LB2→LB3
CARTIGHTER0.20000.100048.80LB1→LB2
COSTTIGHTER0.50000.2000195.00LB2→LB3
DFSWIDER0.20000.5000161.00LB3→LB2
DOTDWIDER0.05000.100049.30LB3→LB2
FCITTIGHTER2.00001.00001229.50LB3→LB4
FEVRWIDER0.50001.0000828.00LB4→LB3
FOXTTIGHTER0.10000.050046.10LB2→LB3
GATCWIDER0.50001.0000100.00LB2→LB1
GBGWIDER0.20000.5000200.20LB4→LB3
GFRDTIGHTER2.00001.0000517.00LB2→LB3
GFTUWIDER0.20000.5000908.30LB5→LB4
GKPWIDER0.20000.5000203.75LB4→LB3
GLEWIDER0.50001.0000290.00LB3→LB2
GMSTIGHTER0.05000.020018.28LB2→LB3
GROWTIGHTER0.50000.2000457.20LB3→LB4
HBRWIDER0.10000.2000291.40LB5→LB4
HLMAWIDER1.00002.00003862.00LB5→LB4
HOCTIGHTER1.00000.5000626.50LB3→LB4
IPFTIGHTER1.00000.5000255.50LB2→LB3
ITMWIDER0.05000.100064.60LB4→LB3
JAGITIGHTER2.00001.0000511.00LB2→LB3
KNOSTIGHTER1.00000.5000762.00LB3→LB4
MCBTIGHTER0.50000.2000143.00LB2→LB3
NAITTIGHTER1.00000.5000390.06LB2→LB3
NANOWIDER0.01000.02006.00LB3→LB2
NOGWIDER0.01000.02003.38LB2→LB1
NWGTIGHTER0.20000.1000573.80LB5→LB6
PMGWIDER0.10000.200024.45LB2→LB1
REVBWIDER0.00500.01003.30LB3→LB2
RKTTIGHTER2.00001.00005468.00LB5→LB6
RNKTIGHTER0.20000.100091.80LB2→LB3
S32WIDER0.20000.5000223.00LB4→LB3
SEPLTIGHTER1.00000.5000458.00LB2→LB3
SFORWIDER0.02000.050020.45LB4→LB3
SQZWIDER0.20000.5000269.00LB4→LB3
SREITIGHTER0.20000.100050.90LB2→LB3
SSTTIGHTER1.00000.5000257.00LB2→LB3
STAFWIDER0.10000.200042.33LB2→LB1
STANTIGHTER0.50000.20001555.50LB5→LB6
STJTIGHTER1.00000.50001292.50LB4→LB5
TGAWIDER0.50001.0000722.22LB4→LB3
TLWWIDER0.01000.020013.50LB4→LB3
TTGTIGHTER0.50000.2000116.60LB2→LB3
VALTTIGHTER50.000020.00006720.00LB1→LB2
VSVSTIGHTER0.50000.2000420.10LB3→LB4
VTYTIGHTER0.20000.1000389.80LB4→LB5
WANDWIDER0.02000.050016.50LB3→LB2
WINEWIDER0.10000.200070.64LB3→LB2
WRKSWIDER0.10000.200037.09LB2→LB1
Madrid (MA) — 7 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
COMTIGHTER0.00500.00200.90LB1→LB2
LGTTIGHTER0.05000.02005.25LB1→LB2
MVCTIGHTER0.05000.020011.15LB2→LB3
NYETIGHTER0.00020.00010.01LB2→LB3
OHLATIGHTER0.00050.00020.41LB3→LB4
ORYTIGHTER0.00500.00202.84LB3→LB4
SAITIGHTER0.00020.00010.06LB2→LB3
Milan (MI) — 32 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
ADVWIDER0.05000.100018.05LB2→LB1
AEFWIDER0.00050.00100.23LB3→LB2
ANIMWIDER0.00500.01006.59LB4→LB3
AVIOTIGHTER0.05000.010038.00LB3→LB5
BMEDTIGHTER0.01000.005016.76LB4→LB5
BZUTIGHTER0.02000.010042.18LB4→LB5
CETIGHTER0.02000.010014.50LB3→LB4
CEMTIGHTER0.02000.010014.85LB3→LB4
CULTTIGHTER0.10000.050018.70LB1→LB2
DANTIGHTER0.10000.050057.75LB3→LB4
DGVTIGHTER0.05000.020028.95LB3→LB4
FCTTIGHTER0.01000.005013.25LB4→LB5
FILATIGHTER0.01000.00508.54LB3→LB4
GTIGHTER0.01000.005034.45LB5→LB6
GHCWIDER0.00500.01004.84LB3→LB2
IGTIGHTER0.01000.005010.29LB4→LB5
IWBTIGHTER0.05000.020019.10LB2→LB3
KMEWIDER0.00200.00500.84LB2→LB1
LTMCTIGHTER0.02000.010024.84LB4→LB5
MBTIGHTER0.00500.002015.70LB5→LB6
MTVTIGHTER0.00020.00010.06LB2→LB3
NEXITIGHTER0.00100.00052.78LB5→LB6
NPIWIDER0.00200.00500.66LB2→LB1
NWLTIGHTER0.02000.010017.60LB3→LB4
PHILTIGHTER0.10000.050022.50LB2→LB3
PIRCWIDER0.00200.00505.71LB5→LB4
PROTIGHTER0.00050.00020.16LB2→LB3
PRTTIGHTER0.00500.00204.64LB3→LB4
PRYTIGHTER0.02000.010098.18LB5→LB6
SFLTIGHTER0.00200.00101.67LB3→LB4
SLTIGHTER0.05000.020029.30LB3→LB4
TCMTIGHTER0.01000.00501.56LB1→LB2
TENWIDER0.00500.010023.29LB6→LB5
UDTIGHTER0.01000.00503.05LB2→LB3
Oslo (OL) — 16 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
AGLXWIDER0.02000.050012.98LB3→LB2
ALNGWIDER0.00500.01004.05LB3→LB2
HAFNIWIDER0.02000.050065.46LB5→LB4
HEXTIGHTER0.01000.00509.34LB3→LB4
HYPROWIDER0.00200.00501.45LB3→LB2
LINKTIGHTER0.05000.020021.65LB3→LB4
MULTITIGHTER0.50000.2000162.00LB2→LB3
NELWIDER0.00200.00502.24LB4→LB3
NOLWIDER0.01000.02008.95LB3→LB2
NORBTTIGHTER0.50000.2000202.00LB3→LB4
NYKDWIDER0.00200.00502.96LB4→LB3
OTECTIGHTER0.05000.020016.75LB2→LB3
PROTTIGHTER1.00000.5000524.50LB3→LB4
RECSIWIDER0.00020.00050.33LB4→LB3
SNORTIGHTER1.00000.5000185.40LB1→LB2
WSTEPTIGHTER0.10000.050017.60LB1→LB2
Paris (PA) — 32 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
ABVXTIGHTER0.20000.1000106.60LB3→LB4
ACAWIDER0.00200.005016.40LB6→LB5
ADOCTIGHTER0.01000.00505.79LB3→LB4
AELISTIGHTER0.00500.00201.29LB2→LB3
AL2SITIGHTER0.05000.020021.80LB3→LB4
ALAGOTIGHTER0.00020.00010.11LB3→LB4
ALAUDTIGHTER0.02000.01003.98LB1→LB2
ALCBITIGHTER0.00050.00010.13LB2→LB4
ALCLSTIGHTER0.00500.00203.15LB3→LB4
ALFLOWIDER0.00100.00200.44LB2→LB1
ALFUMTIGHTER0.05000.02006.25LB1→LB2
ALIKOWIDER0.00500.01001.47LB2→LB1
ALLPLTIGHTER0.00050.00020.09LB1→LB2
ALNRGWIDER0.00010.00020.01LB3→LB2
ALOKWWIDER0.00050.00100.35LB3→LB2
ALSMATIGHTER0.05000.02007.15LB1→LB2
ALSTITIGHTER0.10000.050059.10LB3→LB4
BENWIDER0.00500.01006.58LB4→LB3
BOIWIDER0.05000.100025.60LB3→LB2
BVITIGHTER0.02000.010027.53LB4→LB5
COTYWIDER0.00020.01001.92LB6→LB1
DBVTIGHTER0.00500.00203.49LB3→LB4
DIMWIDER0.05000.1000160.30LB5→LB4
EAPIWIDER0.00100.00201.28LB4→LB3
ETLTIGHTER0.00500.00102.09LB3→LB5
EXATIGHTER0.20000.1000137.80LB3→LB4
EXENSTIGHTER0.10000.050071.75LB3→LB4
FDJUTIGHTER0.02000.010025.65LB4→LB5
FGATIGHTER0.02000.01009.50LB2→LB3
GNFTWIDER0.00500.01008.57LB4→LB3
HCOTIGHTER0.01000.00503.63LB2→LB3
HDFTIGHTER0.01000.00503.73LB2→LB3
HOTIGHTER0.10000.0500250.10LB5→LB6
JBOGTIGHTER0.02000.01003.10LB1→LB2
LBIRDTIGHTER0.10000.050022.55LB2→LB3
MAATTIGHTER0.02000.01007.08LB2→LB3
MRNTIGHTER0.05000.020024.55LB3→LB4
NANOTIGHTER0.05000.020029.35LB3→LB4
PARROTIGHTER0.02000.01007.96LB2→LB3
RITIGHTER0.02000.010067.32LB5→LB6
S30WIDER0.00050.00100.81LB4→LB3
SMCPTIGHTER0.01000.00505.56LB3→LB4
TNGTIGHTER0.00200.00100.77LB2→LB3
VIVWIDER0.00050.00101.96LB5→LB4
Stockholm (ST) — 55 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
2CUREXTIGHTER0.00500.00201.24LB2→LB3
ARION-SDBTIGHTER0.05000.020014.00LB2→LB3
ARPLTIGHTER0.10000.050046.10LB2→LB3
ATCO-ATIGHTER0.05000.0200170.10LB5→LB6
ATICTIGHTER0.10000.050028.20LB2→LB3
ATTTIGHTER0.20000.1000101.40LB3→LB4
AVT-BTIGHTER0.02000.01006.52LB2→LB3
B3WIDER0.05000.100034.80LB3→LB2
BEGRWIDER0.05000.100025.50LB3→LB2
BEIJ-BWIDER0.05000.1000130.00LB5→LB4
BETCOWIDER0.10000.2000143.40LB4→LB3
BICOWIDER0.01000.020016.69LB4→LB3
BONAV-AWIDER0.02000.05009.70LB2→LB1
CANTATIGHTER0.00500.00204.02LB3→LB4
CINTWIDER0.00200.00504.00LB4→LB3
CSTIGHTER0.10000.050081.60LB3→LB4
DUSTWIDER0.00100.00201.42LB4→LB3
ENROTIGHTER0.00200.00100.62LB2→LB3
EXPRS2WIDER0.00500.01004.92LB3→LB2
FNMWIDER0.05000.100045.60LB3→LB2
FRAM-BTIGHTER0.05000.02005.15LB1→LB2
GPXWIDER0.02000.05007.28LB2→LB1
GREATTIGHTER0.10000.050011.70LB1→LB2
GUARDTIGHTER0.00500.00201.53LB2→LB3
HEIM-PREFWIDER0.05000.100021.00LB3→LB2
HM-BWIDER0.02000.0500179.85LB6→LB5
INTRUMWIDER0.01000.020039.61LB5→LB4
ISOFOLWIDER0.00050.00100.66LB4→LB3
IVSOTIGHTER0.50000.2000295.50LB3→LB4
JLTTIGHTER0.01000.00501.48LB1→LB2
JOMATIGHTER0.20000.100061.60LB2→LB3
K2A-BWIDER0.00500.01004.25LB3→LB2
KAMBIWIDER0.10000.2000107.00LB4→LB3
LUGTIGHTER0.50000.2000745.50LB4→LB5
LUMITIGHTER0.20000.1000234.40LB4→LB5
MCAPTIGHTER0.50000.2000474.00LB3→LB4
MEKOTIGHTER0.10000.050066.50LB3→LB4
MILDEFTIGHTER0.10000.0500136.40LB4→LB5
MOBWIDER0.01000.020011.50LB4→LB3
MTRSTIGHTER0.10000.0500166.20LB4→LB5
NCABWIDER0.05000.100050.25LB4→LB3
NITROWIDER0.00200.00501.34LB3→LB2
NOBIWIDER0.00200.00502.21LB4→LB3
NOLA-BWIDER0.02000.050049.64LB4→LB3
ONCOTIGHTER0.00200.00101.56LB3→LB4
ORRONWIDER0.00500.01008.52LB4→LB3
OVZONTIGHTER0.10000.050061.20LB3→LB4
PAXTIGHTER0.10000.050045.80LB2→LB3
PIERCETIGHTER0.02000.01008.96LB2→LB3
PRECWIDER0.00200.00502.05LB4→LB3
QLIFETIGHTER0.01000.00502.01LB2→LB3
RAILWIDER0.05000.100028.10LB3→LB2
RAY-BTIGHTER0.20000.1000190.00LB3→LB4
S2MWIDER0.00010.00020.01LB3→LB2
SANIONTIGHTER0.02000.010016.02LB3→LB4
SBB-DWIDER0.00500.01009.05LB4→LB3
SDOSWIDER0.00500.01001.00LB2→LB1
SECU-BWIDER0.05000.1000157.60LB5→LB4
SOLNATIGHTER1.00000.5000115.00LB1→LB2
STEF-BTIGHTER0.50000.2000185.00LB2→LB3
STWTIGHTER0.10000.050022.90LB2→LB3
SUMMASTIGHTER0.05000.020010.10LB2→LB3
SVIKTIGHTER1.00000.5000325.00LB2→LB3
SWED-ATIGHTER0.10000.0500334.80LB5→LB6
TREL-BWIDER0.10000.2000354.60LB5→LB4
TRIAN-BWIDER0.02000.050018.68LB3→LB2
TRUE-BTIGHTER0.01000.005011.57LB4→LB5
UNIBAPTIGHTER0.02000.01005.90LB2→LB3
VBG-BWIDER0.20000.5000341.40LB4→LB3
VIMIANWIDER0.02000.050025.96LB4→LB3
VIVEWIDER0.00010.00020.08LB3→LB2
VNVWIDER0.01000.020018.26LB4→LB3
VPLAY-BWIDER0.00050.00101.37LB5→LB4
WPAYTIGHTER0.01000.00501.24LB1→LB2
XBRANEWIDER0.00500.01005.60LB4→LB3
YUBICOWIDER0.01000.020048.98LB5→LB4
ZZ-BTIGHTER0.20000.1000138.40LB3→LB4
Vienna (VI) — 6 changes, effective Apr 6
SymbolDirectionCurrentNewPriceBand
ANDRWIDER0.05000.100062.95LB4→LB3
CAIWIDER0.02000.050024.88LB4→LB3
CPIWIDER0.01000.020015.92LB4→LB3
SEMWIDER0.02000.050011.58LB3→LB2
VLATIGHTER0.00200.00104.63LB4→LB5
ZAGWIDER0.00500.01004.13LB3→LB2
Therion Lentilseller
Therion Lentilseller

Former Hand of the King, current macro analyst. Survived three monarchs, two assassination attempts, and one family reunion. Drinks coffee. Knows things.

This dispatch is provided for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance of elven arrows hitting targets does not guarantee future returns.