Friday , 29 March 2024

Algorithms: Why Individual Investors Come Third to Investment Banks & Hedge Funds

Algorithms are the difference between you and the people who actually make money on Wall Street. This infographic explains what algorithms are, the different types, how and where they are used, what they do and their advantages. Take a look.

The above are edited excerpts from an infographic* by Sukhdip Basra (VisualCapitalist.com) entitled How Algorithms Have Changed the Face of Wall Street.
The following infographic is presented by Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!)www.FinancialArticleSummariesToday.com (A site for sore eyes and inquisitive minds) and the FREE Market Intelligence Report newsletter (sample here; register here). This paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement.

Basra goes on to say in further edited excerpts:

In these modern times, it feels as if everything (and sometimes, everyone) is being replaced by electronics and computers. The financial industry is no exception. Algorithms have changed the way investors are trading on the stock market and it has made the process incredibly efficient. However, in addition to the benefits of technology in trading, there have been many problems that have come to light.

Through the increased capabilities of advanced computers and algorithms, high frequency trading (HFT) is made possible. High frequency trading is the rapid trade of stock and securities through use of advanced computer tools and algorithms.

While proponents of HFT would argue that they provide liquidity to the market and decrease overall costs, it has also arguably put mom and pop investors at a disadvantage when competing with investment banks and hedge funds. Quite simply, individual investors do not have the technological resources or the proximity to keep up with the speed their larger counterparts trade at.

Financial journalist, Michael Lewis, recently released an expose book, Flash Boys, which focuses on HFT in the American equity market. Mr. Lewis’ book suggests that “the market is rigged” and that stock fraud is rampant through the illegal practice of insider trading.

High Frequency Trading – “You’re Getting Sc—ed!”

In the wake of the media storm surrounding the release of the book, the FBI, US Department of Justice, and the New York Attorney General’s office have all launched investigations into HFT practices. The New York Stock Exchange was even fined $4.5 million for charges related to Lewis’ book.

In one famous case of Virtu Financial, the HFT firm lost money on only one day of 1,238 days of trading. With instances like this, retail investors have to ask themselves who is really making the big bucks in the market.

Wall Street High Frequency Trading HFT

Editor’s Note: The author’s views and conclusions in the above article are unaltered and no personal comments have been included to maintain the integrity of the original post. Furthermore, the views, conclusions and any recommendations offered in this article are not to be construed as an endorsement of such by the editor.

*http://www.visualcapitalist.com/algorithms-changing-wall-street/ (Copyright © 2014 Visual Capitalist | All rights reserved.)

Related Articles:

1. High Frequency Trading – “You’re Getting Sc—ed!”

How would you feel if you went to the store to buy something, and someone rushed ahead of you and high purchased it first and then sold it to you at a higher price? Well, in the financial world this happens millions upon millions of times. In fact, this practice has become so popular that it has spawned an entire industry known as “high frequency trading”. Read More »