High-Frequency Trading Special Report
Click here to download the PDF
If the "stocks tornado" of May 6, which saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average head
south to the tune of nearly 1,000 points, has taught us anything, it's that the highfrequency trading phenomenon is a very emotive issue. This is the last thing the
high-frequency boys needed, given the US Securities and Exchange Commission's
(SEC) well-publicized fi xation with such strategies, which came to a head by way of
James Brigagliano's testimony before the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment on October 28 last year. "This quicker access could, for example, enable high-frequency traders to successfully implement ‘momentum' strategies designed to prompt sharp price movements and then profi t from the resulting short-term volatility," he testifi ed. "In combination with a ‘liquidity detection' strategy that seeks solely to ascertain whether there is a large buyer or seller in the market (such as an institutional investor), a high-frequency trader may be able to profi t from trading ahead of the large order."
At the time, Brigagliano's comments seemed a little melodramatic, but last week's
fiasco suggests that perhaps he wasn't too wide of the mark. I bet he's smiling now,
though.
Brigagliano's testimony was backed up in mid-January this year when the SEC
voted 5-0 to publish its so-called concept release on high-frequency trading, dark
pools and the structure of markets, a document that sketches out the Commission's
concerns surrounding the much-maligned practice, and invites feedback from market
participants - traders, exchanges and brokerages - which in all likelihood will lay the
foundation upon which the agency's future high-frequency rules will be based.
SEC chairman Mary Schapiro was quoted in the US press on January 13 insinuating
that the Commission would act in investors' interests, which, given its primary reason
for being - investor protection in the wake of the October 1929 Wall Street crash (even though the SEC was only offi cially founded some fi ve years later) - means that the US regulator would be inclined to act sooner or later. "Trading has accelerated from seconds to milliseconds," Schapiro said. "At the Commission, we must continually assess how changes in the market are affecting investors."
With comments like that, the writing is pretty much on the wall, I'm afraid.
What isn't certain, however, is what these rules will look like in their fi nal form, or
indeed how far they will go to impinge upon a strategy that according to certain estimates accounts for as much as 70% of US stock volume. My guess is that the SEC
will impose the types of rules designed to restrict the "downside" associated with highfrequency trading, while simultaneously allowing such strategies to continue. The only problem with that tack is how they would go about it. That's anyone's guess.
Click here to download the PDF
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@waterstechnology.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.waterstechnology.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
More on Trading Tech
Systematic tools gain favor in fixed income
Automation is enabling systematic strategies in fixed income that were previously reserved for equities trading. The tech gap between the two may be closing, but differences remain.
Waters Wrap: Examining the changing EMS landscape
After LSEG’s decision to sunset Redi, Anthony examines what might lie ahead for the EMS space.
This Week: Clear Street, AXA/AWS, TD Bank/Google Cloud and more
A summary of the latest financial technology news.
LSEG to sunset Redi EMS in favor of Tora
Sources say competitors will look to seize on the decision to win over Redi’s sizeable US client base.
WatersTechnology latest edition
Check out our latest edition, plus more than 10 years of our best content.
Getting aggressive: Overbond uses AI to assess dealer axes
The fixed-income analytics specialist has developed a new tool to help buy-side firms decide if they’re getting a good price from their dealers.
TS Imagine integrates LTX’s pre-trade analytics tool
Users of the fixed-income EMS will now have access to LTX’s Liquidity Cloud tool, which provides a pre-trade score for the likelihood of trading success.
Most read
- Deutsche Börse democratizes data with Marketplace offering
- Sell-Side Technology Awards 2024: All the winners
- Sell-Side Technology Awards 2024: Best sell-side front-office platform—Bloomberg