Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA)

CFA Level III: Trading and Market Microstructure · 3:41

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
After the trade is done and through
We need to see how well we flew
Did we get the price we wanted most
Or pay more than we should have cost
Transaction Cost Analysis shows
Where our trading profit goes

[Chorus]
T-C-A, measure every way
Implementation shortfall tells us what we pay
Market impact, timing cost, spread so wide
T-C-A helps our trading strategy ride
Check the benchmark, see the gap
Make our future trading snap

[Verse 2]
Implementation shortfall's the key
Compares what we got to what should be
Paper portfolio versus real
Shows us exactly how we feel
The difference between our perfect plan
And what we got with our own hands

[Chorus]
T-C-A, measure every way
Implementation shortfall tells us what we pay
Market impact, timing cost, spread so wide
T-C-A helps our trading strategy ride
Check the benchmark, see the gap
Make our future trading snap

[Bridge]
Explicit costs are clear to see
Commissions paid, that's the fee
Implicit costs hide in the trade
Market impact, price delayed
Opportunity cost when we wait too long
VWAP and TWAP help us stay strong

[Verse 3]
Volume weighted average price
VWAP benchmark, that's precise
Time weighted shows us how we did
Against the market, nothing hid
Arrival price and closing too
All benchmarks help our analysis through

[Chorus]
T-C-A, measure every way
Implementation shortfall tells us what we pay
Market impact, timing cost, spread so wide
T-C-A helps our trading strategy ride
Check the benchmark, see the gap
Make our future trading snap

[Outro]
Learn from every single trade
Better decisions can be made
T-C-A lights up the way
For better trading every day

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