Advantages And Disadvantages Of Flash Trading

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INTRODUCTION What is flash trading? These days, flash trading, mostly called high-frequency trading (HFT), is in the middle of heated discussion about whether such practice is fair and legitimate. HFT is simply a form of automated trade execution with brisk decision-making process of the super computers. In common vernacular, professional HFT traders use super computers to trade stocks by attaining information faster than any others and using the information to make transactions, exploiting the price difference from the short instant. All of this can happen in franctions of a second. (Finger, 2013) This practice is viewed to be beyond the scope of human skills. HFT is one example of modern technological advances that exerts a great influence to the stock trading market. Some small and limited forms of algorithm trading with the use of mathematical and computerized formula for decision-making were being used by financial companies for decades. As time goes on, the size and scope of trading is expanding its area of business and is finding its way for public acceptance. In accordance to such expansion, the regulators and stock traders are expected to reconsider its potential consequences and prevent any manipulation or wrongdoings from occurring. Currently in the World However, HFT seems to be heading in favor of the opponents, as its danger and disadvantages are being emphasized through current issues. Interestingly, mostly negative perceptions seem to be prevailing as two noticeable events occurred: ‘Flash Crash’ in 2010 that resulted in significant decline of the stock price by about 10% (Patterson, 2010) and a new book Flash Boys launched by Michael Lewis. Even though it has been a tacit practice by investors or high-speed firms ... ... middle of paper ... ...bate is that everything is just conflicts between business. The high-frequency companies such as BATS exchange (CNBC) will be highly disappointed if more investigation is done on the issue to limit the activity. Moreover, some exchanges that have not acquired such fancy machines will be happy to have some limitations enforced on the invincible, high-tech rivals. A definite reality is that people show negative attitude toward flash trading, as shown in the survey question from CNBC. (CNBC.com staff, 2014) 66% responded that Katsuyama who casts doubt on the complete reception of HFT, while merely 5% voted for O’Brien who favors HFT and is actively carrying out business in that disputed industry. As the video from CNBC shows, this topic will be intriguing and intense topic for people and truly challenge people’s mind into good questions about the rationale behind HFT.

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