Author Topic: Black Boxes  (Read 7120 times)

Bevan

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Black Boxes
« on: May 10, 2016, 12:17:43 pm »
It is estimated that around 95% of the volume traded on the NYSE is now done through algorithmic trading / black boxes. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithmic_trading

Traders are now just essentially order routing humanoids (e.g. from client to PC) with the bots essentially making all of the crucial millisecond execution decisions. (I'm always amazed at how people perceive traders to be the Hollywood alpha male types when in reality they are really more the IT geek beta male type). Anyway, I wonder how this relates to volumes on the JSE? Does anyone have any firm numbers for how much volume is coming from bots and how much from actual human executed trades? Of course I realise that most trades are still almost 100% human originated i.e. client or prop originated, be it pension fund, prop trader or individual stock clients. I just wonder how much of actual execution has shifted to the bots on the JSE, and associated trading platforms?

Also interesting to note how Chain has now developed an OS for the block-chain and that the major US banks are looking at how they can use this for private block-chain networks. Don't think cash is dead just yet but unless SA pulls up our socks our banks might soon be left behind....
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-02/inside-the-secret-meeting-where-wall-street-tested-digital-cash
« Last Edit: May 10, 2016, 12:21:50 pm by Bevan »
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