Many who follow today's HFT debate may think "latency arbitrage" only came about recently bc of new technology & loopholes in 2009-era legislation. This could not be farther from the truth. Latency arbitrage has been around for over 200 years. Here are some examples:
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Soon the invention of the telegraph would drastically change how high speed traders would behave. Power shifted to the telcos who controlled these telegraph lines. Below thread from
@_John_Handel fabulously explains:https://twitter.com/_John_Handel/status/1301990614888845312?s=20 …Show this thread -
Even in the CME trading pits there were constant attempts to gain consistent edge. Traders would wear special platform shoes that let them see & trade over shorter competitors. Where else would official rulebooks include specific limits on shoe height?pic.twitter.com/LZGQoABAos
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I say all this to give context. Before the game was fast horses & special telescopes. Today it's glass fiber optic cable and microwave towers. This kind of jockeying has always existed and likely will always exist.
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Across all high speed trading eras, one theme is clear: it's nearly impossible to stop smart, very rich traders from finding an edge, whether it be new technology or loopholes in existing laws.
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End of conversation
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