Quote Refresh Rate
Quote refresh rate describes the speed at which a market updates its displayed prices. A fast refresh rate means prices change almost immediately after trades occur. A slower rate means quotes lag behind actual trading activity.
In prediction markets, refresh rate matters because probabilities are derived directly from prices. When updates are frequent, the market reflects new information quickly. When updates are slow, displayed probabilities may briefly trail reality. On platforms like Polymarket, Kalshi, Myriad, and Manifold, this behavior is visible in prediction markets data as either smooth, continuous movement or step-like jumps.
Quote refresh rate does not change the final outcome of a market, but it strongly affects short-term interpretation, execution quality, and how “live” a market feels.
Why It Matters
Quote refresh rate affects how accurate and timely prediction markets data appears. Faster updates improve transparency, while slower updates increase execution and interpretation risk.
How does quote refresh rate affect probability accuracy?
When quotes refresh quickly, probabilities stay closely aligned with real trading behavior. When refresh rates are slower, prices may appear stable even as trades are happening behind the scenes. Analysts need to account for this when interpreting short-term prediction markets data.
Why do quote refresh rates vary across markets?
They vary due to market design, liquidity, and technical constraints. Highly active markets refresh constantly because trades are frequent. Quieter markets update less often, leading to chunkier price changes. These differences are visible in prediction markets data as varying smoothness across markets.
What insights can analysts gain from quote refresh behavior?
Analysts can infer market activity, execution pressure, and responsiveness to information. Sudden bursts of rapid refreshes often signal breaking news or heightened interest. Monitoring refresh behavior adds important context to prediction markets data beyond prices alone.
Real-World Example
During a major announcement, a Polymarket market shows prices updating multiple times per minute as traders react. Once uncertainty fades, updates slow and probabilities stabilize, reflecting a calmer trading environment.
Quote Refresh Rate and FinFeedAPI
Analyzing refresh behavior requires high-resolution, time-stamped price updates. FinFeed's Prediction Markets API provides structured prediction markets data—updates, historical data, and volume—that developers can use to measure quote refresh rates and study how quickly markets react to new information.