What is high-frequency trading?

High frequency trading (HFT), or systematic trading, is an automated trading platform used by large investment banks, hedge funds and institutional investors . The strategy that engages powerful computers and servers and the fastest connectivity technology to trade large numbers of orders at extremely high speeds.

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Is high-frequency trading real?

High-frequency traders can conduct trades in approximately one 64 millionth of a second . This is roughly the time it takes for a computer to process an order and send it out to another machine. Their automated systems allow them to scan markets for information and respond faster than any human possibly could.

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Is high-frequency trading good?

Many proponents of high-frequency trading argue that it enhances liquidity in the market . HFT clearly increases competition in the market as trades are executed faster and the volume of trades significantly increases. The increased liquidity causes bid-ask spreads to decline, making the markets more price-efficient.

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Is high-frequency trading fair?

Critics see high-frequency trading as unethical and as giving an unfair advantage for large firms against smaller institutions and investors. Stock markets are supposed to offer a fair and level playing field, which HFT arguably disrupts since the technology can be used for ultra-short-term strategies.

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