High speed trading is only relevant to the competition between market makers and other short term speculators. It has no effect on long term speculators/hedgers/etc.
If you want to trade right now, you will pay a few cents/share for the privilege (this is the spread). If my company was fastest, we sit at the top of the order queue, and we will receive those few cents/share. If GS was faster, they get the pennies. Either way, you trade right now. And if I decide to cut in line by offering a better price, you trade right now for less.
Comments
High speed trading is only relevant to the competition between market makers and other short term speculators. It has no effect on long term speculators/hedgers/etc.
If you want to trade right now, you will pay a few cents/share for the privilege (this is the spread). If my company was fastest, we sit at the top of the order queue, and we will receive those few cents/share. If GS was faster, they get the pennies. Either way, you trade right now. And if I decide to cut in line by offering a better price, you trade right now for less.