by Bill Singer
CNBC's Man vs Machine: Inside the complex world of computer driven trading
September 14, 2010
From Bill Singer: The folks at CNBC have posted a breath-takingly impressive analysis of the current state of the stock markets and I urge all industry professionals and serious investors to read this comprehensive online series.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/38343584/
According to the "Editor's Introduction" (veteran reporter Bob Pisani):
Our special report, "Man Vs. Machine", will answer these questions and address these issues. On the Web and on TV this week, we'll will look at how trading has changed, debate the pros and cons of the new system and take a behind-the-scenes look at trading at the various new venues.
Here's what you'll find in our need-to-know guide:
1. An overview of what is right and wrong about the trading system.
2. A rundown of the players and platforms, such as ECNs, dark pools and market makers.
3. A profile of three traders using the system-an active retail trader, the Chief Investment Officer at mutual fund giant Vanguard, and a high-frequency trader-and how their trades interact with people and platforms along the way.
4. A brief history of how trading has changed over the past 40 years.
5. The evolution of high-frequency trading, the latest market bogeyman.
6. The rise of the machines in the marketplace.
7. Reforms and restructuring to improve the trading system.
8. The players behind the algorithms and the high-frequency trades. We call them the New Kings of Wall Street-in name, if not address, as some are located hundreds of miles from Wall Street. Among them: Seven names you may never have heard of.
9. The old guard, such as exchanges like the NYSE, which are enabling the new players but may also have the most to lose.
10. The explosion of exchange traded funds, or ETFs, one of the fastest growing parts of the investment world and their role in the Flash Crash.
11. What it means for the retail investor, traditional stock picking and the buy-and-hold school of investing.