New research from Horizon Trading Solutions reveals that retail trading has moved from the periphery to the core of financial markets, significantly altering institutional execution. A survey of traders at tier 2 and 3 banks and institutional brokers found that nearly two-thirds now attribute at least 40% of their total trading activity to retail flow. This suggests that the influence of individual investors is far more deeply integrated into professional market structures than the standard US headline figures of 20% to 35% would indicate.
The surge in retail participation across equities, options, and micro derivatives is forcing a shift in professional conduct. Close to 75% of respondents have adjusted their execution strategies to account for these flows, with nearly a third reporting fundamental changes to their trading methods. Despite previous volatility linked to “meme stock” events, the majority of institutional participants now view the presence of retail flow as a positive market development.
Looking forward, institutional traders expect retail-driven initiatives to continue reshaping market infrastructure. Extended trading hours were identified by 25% of respondents as the development likely to have the greatest impact on their operations, followed by global retail expansion and the growth of fractional trading. While prediction markets remain a minor factor due to regulatory constraints outside the US, the overall trend points toward a market structure increasingly defined by retail demand.
Subscribe to our newsletter
