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Why Should GS And NYSE Stocks Be Nervous About The Flash Ban?

Tyler Durden's picture




Ignore the retracement, it is just the 19 year old momo quants "with no financial or business background" who are about to get a rude awakening in what happens when non-linear equations diverge from the stock market.




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Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:22 | Link to Comment RobotTrader
RobotTrader's picture

Looks like the quants are in a hurry before the flash trading is shut down.

Check out Orbitz and MBI.

They are picking out overshorted junkers and gunning these in a hell squeeze.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:32 | Link to Comment Eduardo
Eduardo's picture

Today's chart of CIT above $1 looks quite interesting

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:33 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Airlines, Bond Insurers, REITs (even Hotel/Motel whatcha gonna do, say what?)...  I haven't even opened a Heatmap yet today.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:36 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:04 | Link to Comment curbyourrisk
curbyourrisk's picture

Think that is hot.....check out GGC.

 

This is a dog of a company.....high debt and huge overhang in inventory.  Yet...it is flying.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:18 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Avoided BK, for now.  That's worth a 10-bagger.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:13 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

you could have made a fortune in the past year buying and selling the likes of MBI, ABK, RDN, PMI, MTG.  They are all basically back where they were this time last year, with multiple trips up and down several hundred percent.  they must have betas of 100.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:26 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

This will have a tiny impact on GS.

If you want to worry about it hurting a particular company, I would set sights on Pipeline Trading... since if the SEC next decides to ban dark pools (a decision I could only imagine is based on the poor choice of name from a public marketing perspective), then much of their gig is up.

I for one hope that the "ban" means that there will still be a way for people who would like to place flash orders to do so.  I enjoyed the increased liquidity rebates that flash orders provided, and do not relish paying higher route-out fees in the future as a result of this popular backlash.

 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:28 | Link to Comment Tyler Durden
Tyler Durden's picture

So you think the SEC response is based purely on a "populist backlash" - let's maybe wait to see what their findings conclude.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:46 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

I do look forward to reading the SEC's rationale for why these order types will be banned (they are probably trying to sort that out as I type this, looking for things to change in Reg NMS).

I do think there are legitimate issues surrounding flash, but I thought that the best approach was for the institutions who didn't like their orders flashed to make the TRIVIAL changes to not flash them.  If you don't like the trading facilities provided by a particular ECN or exchange, that is what competition is for.

I believe that the market would have sorted this out on its own in short order (with ludite institutional investors moving orders away from ECNs that flashed their orders when appropriate to do so).  But if replacing the 4 letters "EDGA" with "ISLD" in their orders was really too technically difficult for them, then I guess the market needed to get senators and the SEC involved to give them a hand...

We'll see how much the large institutions who's ability to squeal about flash orders rather than make a 4 character order routing change like it if dark pools are shutdown (a change that I think would be a grave mistake, but from which I expect to profit).

 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:23 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

Dark pools are used to make block trades without moving the market.

Without going into specifics of my trading software, if those orders are posted on exchanges/ECNs where I can see the bid/ask, or at least see the trade go by in a timely manner for orders that don't post to the order book - then I have a more accurate picture of the equities my strategy is following, and there are additional mis-priced orders for me to execute against.

I get more accurate pricing information and more looks at poorly priced orders.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:26 | Link to Comment Tyler Durden
Tyler Durden's picture

How about dark pool Indications of Interests - you have no problem with blatant potential abuse there?

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:39 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

No, I don't.

Orders end up in dark pools because someone executing the trade thought that it was the best way for them to unwind or accumulate a position.  There are all sorts of issues pro and con (I think the biggest frankly is that the execution price is based off of NBBO, and NBBO is delayed by several ms over what someone with L2 access to each feed to generate on their own) - but the people playing in the dark pools are grown-ups.

Sometimes these grown-ups are idiots, but other times - they are making rationale decisions armed with the understanding of the tradeoffs.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:16 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:15 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

I'm trying to see how would leveling the playing field by democratizing the speed of all orders to say, 800 miliseconds is a bad thing...  But I've got nothin'.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:28 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

You could just stop all trading and "level the playing field".

800ms is more than enough to keep a server in Hong Kong and trade.  If you can't afford co-location, and you can't afford an account with a broker that will allow you to co-locate in their data center ($100K is all you need to get 1ms access), then surely you can afford a cable modem closer to the venues than Hong Kong.

As for the downside you don't see... if orders were held or delayed somehow for 800ms, then orders would be adjusted to the new risk environment and would be less agressive, resulting in less liquid markets with lower trading volumes and higher bid/ask spreads. 

 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 18:48 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

Somehow I don't think we're talking about the same thing.

Wed, 08/05/2009 - 00:07 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:23 | Link to Comment joann
joann's picture

@ peterpeter, re: "increased liquidity"

Is that the same type of liquidity that subprime mortgages offered the market with no down and no docs?

 

Yeah that worked out well ... didn't it?

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:44 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

No Joann, it is not.

Liquidity in your context means available capital to finance a bubble.

Liquidity in my context means an order posted to an order book which is visible to market participants, does not executve immediately, and which improves the previously posted best bid (i.e. is higher) or best ask (i.e. is lower).

Same work, but about as much to do with each other as the liquidity in the beer I look forward to having later today.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:35 | Link to Comment Deferred Comp
Deferred Comp's picture

Why do you label institutions as Luddites ?  Don't you see how this has evolved ?  All of the "competition" and free market soulutions have once again benefitted the few at the expense of the many.  There is no possible way to determine who is sniffing these systems looking to disadvantage users.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:47 | Link to Comment peterpeter
peterpeter's picture

If you don't think that the record tight bid/ask spread and ridiculously low trading costs the US equity markets enjoy has been a benefit to the many, then all I can say is we greatly disagree...

And I called them luddites because they were incapable of making the most trivial of changes (literally 4 characters!) in their order routing to avoid flashing, if that is what they wanted to do.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:00 | Link to Comment Tyler Durden
Tyler Durden's picture

I, indeed, have no shame in presenting facts. As for investment recommendations, which Zero Hedge does not indulge in, I am sure you will find CNBC more suitable for investing style.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:32 | Link to Comment rD2.0
rD2.0's picture

Don't listen to these idiots Tyler. You are doing a great job! Without you the thefts of Goldman et al would never be revealed

Nobody talks about all this stuff on TV or the blogosphere

Most do not understand it... and those you do, do not talk about it because they are the ones making money from these scams

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:46 | Link to Comment Wilderman
Wilderman's picture

Absolutely, ignore the yapping dogs and continue pulling at the curtain.  Your content is priceless.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:06 | Link to Comment Consistently_In...
Consistently_Incredulous's picture

I second that

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment SilverIsKing
SilverIsKing's picture

You are probably the guy who was telling Peter Schiff he was all wrong in 2006 and 2007.  Facts win.  Sorry you are using this site for short term investment advice.  That alone speaks to your lack of intelligence and sophistication.  BTW, grab another bag for the head.  You need it.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:11 | Link to Comment JohnKing
JohnKing's picture

Actually by pointing out the manipulations, crooks, cronies and other assorted and accurate market information one could have concluded that going long would be wise (why fight city hall?).

I believe the disclaimer on this site says it all. You should read it.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:13 | Link to Comment mule65
mule65's picture

Don't assume all readers are bears.  Far more bulls have been slaughtered. 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:19 | Link to Comment dnarby
dnarby's picture

Lemmesee...  Cramer offers all sorts of hyperactive 'investing' advice, and has a 50% accuracy rate at best (although if you check the ones he got *really* wrong, I'd think on a dollar % basis he's waaaaay below 50% (e.g. Bear Stearns call).

 

Tyler doesn't offer any investing advice, but just calmly presents facts and analysis you can't get anywhere else.

 

I think that would make him the Anti-Cramer.  Quick!   Shave his head and look for the mark!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:21 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 17:15 | Link to Comment Arm
Arm's picture

Another fool.  Of course we have lost money.  That does not mean we got the analysis wrong.  It only means we got the timing wrong.

Go ahead buy a plenty.  Hope you get out on time.  Bear market rallies can last years (seldom). You might get lucky

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 18:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:33 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:36 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

It's not only a right, it's your responsibility to buy.  Now.  No point in resisting.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:41 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:20 | Link to Comment Sqworl
Sqworl's picture

Government Deathcare...those over 40...follow green line...Soylent Department...await instructions.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:25 | Link to Comment aldousd
aldousd's picture

so that's what they meant by Green Jobs!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:09 | Link to Comment Consistently_In...
Consistently_Incredulous's picture

Anyone for a remake of Logan's Run?

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 00:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:02 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:49 | Link to Comment Wilderman
Wilderman's picture

Maybe you should count your blessings:  at least you got taken in while Sheila still had some cookies in the jar.  I'm going out to interview local credit unions this afternoon.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:55 | Link to Comment e1even1
e1even1's picture

"you are getting more mystic by the day, care to help us novices what a flash order is, so that we could chip in with our thoughts?"

http://www.tradersmagazine.com/issues/20_296/-103978-1.html

then, google 'flash order'

then, there's a tag up by the headline for other related columns.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:35 | Link to Comment ToNYC
ToNYC's picture

Lloyd puts out the call to lay low. Is that nervous?

That new HFT building that's going up to skim the market cream forever, even if there is no real new money but only remaining mutual fund rips.

How you like me now?!

Lloyd says to hide the bling..right out of Gooldfellas with Jimmy reading the riot act on seeing the new car pull up to the bar..of course now it's Goldfellas!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:43 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:16 | Link to Comment Consistently_In...
Consistently_Incredulous's picture

Hahaha - "Jimmy" Blankfein...

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:46 | Link to Comment Tyler Durden
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:55 | Link to Comment Bruce Krasting
Bruce Krasting's picture

TD: You every think you would be on the same page as Chuck S. two months ago? Funny how these things work out....

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:01 | Link to Comment RobotTrader
RobotTrader's picture

REIT Squeeze underway....



Chart Image Code

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:12 | Link to Comment Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

Chum.  churn.  Rinse & repeat.

Great insight.  Thanks

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:03 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:22 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

If Gold keeps rising despite the bullion banks' huge short positions, the upside explosion past $1000 will be a sight to behold. It will be the most spectacular explosion in the price of anything ever. For those on the right side of the trade, fortunes of a lifetime will be made.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:50 | Link to Comment Gunther
Gunther's picture

Gordon,

If the bullion banks would have to cover their shorts at way more then 1000$/oz they will be broke. My guess is that the rules will be changed to protect the financial system. Futures will probably be settled in paper, be it cash or gld shares that are paper too. It will get interesting if the buyer is powerful enough to force settlement in real metal.

Jason Hommel looked at OTC positions in “other precious metals” from the BIS at 190 billion$ for (mostly) silver. The market for gold is way bigger, where will the money come from to buy the metal and will the actual owners sell for paper at all?

http://news.silverseek.com/GoldIsMoney/1247075892.php

Gunther

 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:40 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

Actually, the bullion banks are already broke. All that's backing their operations is a printing press. The day they will be *really* broke is when people stop accepting paper money at which point Gold will not be sold for any amount of paper. Till we get to that point, I think there is a lot of room left for the price to rise because all they have to do is provide enough printed paper to the holders of physical metal in order to entice them to sell. Also, I think the fiat money system will end (actually, it already is) in a hyperinflationary explosion. What we are seeing now is only the beginning of that phase, so going forward I think a lot of observers will be surprised and confused by the extent of rise in the price of anything that is a real asset.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:19 | Link to Comment Dr. Kenneth Noi...
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater's picture

 

The day they will be *really* broke is when people stop accepting paper money at which point Gold will not be sold for any amount of paper.

So how long after that does lead trump gold? Specifically, lead in roughly 4g quantities travelling at about 900m/s? (you can't eat gold, but you can use the threat of high-velocity lead to take gold from someone else :p)

Wed, 08/05/2009 - 00:14 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:05 | Link to Comment curbyourrisk
curbyourrisk's picture

Fuck Goldman....

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:14 | Link to Comment Oso
Oso's picture

FYI - i just requested that all of my funds' order routing be excluded from any dark pools with GSEC-REDI.  This means our order flow will no longer go through Sigma X or MS' and UBS' pools.  Am curious to see if our executions are any different.

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:30 | Link to Comment Bolweevil
Bolweevil's picture

please update periodically!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:18 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:57 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:21 | Link to Comment Dr. Kenneth Noi...
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater's picture

Is that the third rule of ZH? ;)

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:19 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:19 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture


"Why Should GS And NYSE Stocks Be Nervous About The Flash Ban?"

 

GS - because their golden goose is about to be slaughtered.

NYSE - because they'll potentially be holding a black swan rather than a golden goose.

 

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:37 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:26 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:33 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:43 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:45 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:54 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:11 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:17 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:55 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:55 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:14 | Link to Comment Ando
Ando's picture

Not sure why everyone assumes all GS trading gains are from flash orders.  You cant even be sure that they use them at all.  And NYSE doesnt have that capability.  But anyway thanks for the short squeeze that zero hedge caused today in GS and NYX. lolool

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:40 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 17:32 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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