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Stock Market Self-Cannibalization To Continue As Volume Implosion Accelerates

Tyler Durden's picture




The 'what we lose in margin, we'll make up for in volume' strategy is failing. And for the NYSE it is failing large. The decision to 'enable' HFT - for its 'liquidity-provision', which after all has done nothing but expose the dismal reality of a market structure designed to nickel-and-dime retail til the last penny drops, has had the absolute opposite unintended consequence of driving the only real liquidity provider - the retail trader putting his real money to work - out of the market. As Securities Technology reports, the NYSE Euronext reports daily volume of trading stocks down 16.9% from a year ago (and down 17.8% YTD compared to last year) and down 9.9% from June alone. Trading in stocks on its exchanges in Europe were also down 12.3%. This plunge in stock trading has knocked into the derivative markets which have seen a massive 15.8% cliff-dive worldwide from June to July.

 

One more nail statistic in the coffin of CNBC's audience is a 29.7% drop in ETF transactions year-over-year and NYSE/Arca/MKT's share of trading in NYSE-listed stocks is down 34.3% from a year ago as the dark pools rise.

 

With volumes collapsing it is only likely that we will see far more 'incidents' such as Knight - where companies whose top-line explicitly stems from flow trading - increasingly find themselves redundant; whether or not this is due to a self-inflicted algo, or other, potentially more sinister, reasons.




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Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:33 | Link to Comment mrktwtch2
mrktwtch2's picture

we dont trade stocks here!!  lol

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:37 | Link to Comment SilverTree
SilverTree's picture

Pass the Chianti please.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:40 | Link to Comment Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

Its a Skynet, Hal & Joshua circle jerk - where fingers are replaced by digits!

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:41 | Link to Comment Concentrated po...
Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.'s picture

...and the fava beans

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:27 | Link to Comment fonestar
fonestar's picture

The sheep will stay in their stocks, mutual funds and 401k's until the bitter end.  It's what they were told to do.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:02 | Link to Comment 4horse
4horse's picture

a bunch of the boys were whooping it up, at the malamute saloon

up/down a dollar, every other hour, winning/losing while downing that blue ruin . . .

 

 

ALGO: @ the klondike kasino
0.01 x 10k/s x 100cos. = desperate pennies an hour, picked-off-the-bones of these 
 0.02 ?
49er-type goldcos as, a buncha bucks, along comes that croupier to wipe the table clean

 

 

 

oh my.
darling.
clementine

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:07 | Link to Comment Hype Alert
Hype Alert's picture

Shouldn't the title read: HFT Cannibalization To Continue As Volume Implosion Accelerates since retail has left the building? 

 

I think at some point when the machines start fighting over the 10 remaining orders in the system, there will be more problems exposed.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:21 | Link to Comment Doubleguns
Doubleguns's picture

I am still waiting for the HFT machines to battle it out. Maybe something like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYE8FtWXhA&feature=fvwrel

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 19:59 | Link to Comment DeadFred
DeadFred's picture

I suspect that when the market drops over the cliff volume will return if only for a bit. If your a buy and hold type why would you trade when the robots are pumping things for you. If you're an active retail trader you're just a myth anyway so we don't care what you hypothetically would do.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 22:24 | Link to Comment Buck Johnson
Buck Johnson's picture

Remember Jeffries everyone, I bet they are next on the block and it won't be pretty.  The bankers and the US want out of this mess without pain and it's not possible.  The spider has spun a web so complicated that even he is caught in it.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:35 | Link to Comment Precious
Precious's picture

Bernanke says, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:45 | Link to Comment eclectic syncretist
eclectic syncretist's picture

He is the man behind the curtain.

Algos have ruined the market and everyone knows it.  Even those who don't smell a rat at this point.

Still time to get short here for those crazy enough to still be involved.  Bernanke's options are not nearly as robust as many interested people would like to believe.  In fact, what little is left of the Fed's credibility is at high risk right now.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:44 | Link to Comment CH1
CH1's picture

He is the man behind the curtain.

Right, but it was that man behind the curtain who said "pay no ateention to the man behind".....

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:56 | Link to Comment silverserfer
silverserfer's picture

bernanke is NOT the man behind the curtian. HE is the wicked warlock of the East. The men behing the curtian are operating by cell phone from one of their 150 palaces spread across the world.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:48 | Link to Comment The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz's picture

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:21 | Link to Comment Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

pay no attention to the fat cats living in the 151 palaces spread across the globe

..and that short chubby balding little oik with a beard too

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:31 | Link to Comment zippy_uk
zippy_uk's picture

Agreed - he is a dirty old man and he is naked

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:33 | Link to Comment govttrader
govttrader's picture

Bond Market, Bond Market, Bond Market!!!!  Thunder Cats Hoooooo!!!!

http://govttrader.blogspot.com/

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:41 | Link to Comment NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

You're going to wear out your welcome real quick-like if you keep spamming every thread. Especially if you aren't adding anything to the discussion.

Just sayin'.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:46 | Link to Comment DrDinkus
DrDinkus's picture

FWIW, govttrader's call on the bond auction price action today was spot on...so thank you, govttrader...

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:15 | Link to Comment VisualCSharp
VisualCSharp's picture

He's a bottom-feeder; in this case, he's bottom-feeding off ZH's traffic.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:34 | Link to Comment Squid Vicious
Squid Vicious's picture

Must be busy in the Hampsteins...

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:35 | Link to Comment HaroldWang
HaroldWang's picture

Again, another important point that no one talks about on CNBC as they're all busy calling for SPX 1600 by EOY. It's really going to hurt these guys - no trading, no revenue. Scary situation when these guys start to come up with "creative" ways to make up the difference. Knight will look tame at that point.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:39 | Link to Comment Manthong
Manthong's picture

I don't know , man..

I'm getting the feeling that the digital printing press has been displaced by the replicator that has no need for digital book entries.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:37 | Link to Comment Bunga Bunga
Bunga Bunga's picture

Don't worry about low volume. There is not enough supply. Stocks are sold out.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:39 | Link to Comment FromGaltsGulch
FromGaltsGulch's picture

Well it's 3:35 ET and the NYSE volume has finally surpassed the volume from the 1:00PM close  of July 3rd..way to go NYSE...

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:39 | Link to Comment Getting Old Sucks
Getting Old Sucks's picture

CNBS is pure propaganda.  It's the real Muppet Show.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:44 | Link to Comment Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

That would be a great skit - if someone could overlay the Muppet Show theme music over CNBC's Cramer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlXMboPnETU

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:49 | Link to Comment Getting Old Sucks
Getting Old Sucks's picture

LOL, Becky can put her arm up his ass make him scream BOOYA! 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:18 | Link to Comment Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

Screaming BOOYA implies Cramer would feel Becky's arm!

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:52 | Link to Comment alfred b.
alfred b.'s picture

 

    If it were not for reporting data, cnbs would have NO viewers!

 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:25 | Link to Comment johnjkiii
johnjkiii's picture

Tell me when the 'I Love Lucy' reruns begin

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:39 | Link to Comment sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

Already called this one 4 days ago.

2681280

"Yes, this was a setup. Not being talked about is the fact that KCG had $7.5B in cash as of their last quarterly statement in June 2012. They could have handled the loss. This was engineered to remove competition and control an avenue of the markets. Interactive Brokers needs to take caution (IBKR)."

 

2679907

"Watching them cannibalize each other should be interesting over the next few years."

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:39 | Link to Comment buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

the lower the volume the higher the stock market

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:43 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Yeah! ... It is called a Hammerhead Stall and we all know what happens when gravity becomes stronger than lift.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:00 | Link to Comment slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

you fall into the shark-infested waters for lunch?

i think the sharks like bear a'la fresca;  thery've been having it for lunch all week...

whenever angela strolls back onto the bourse we'll get a bit more drama, but the banksters will take every point they get on the indices b4 that fateful day

what is angela thinking?

slewie intel indicates some pretty subtle indications to figure, here

  1. Merkel Government Embroiled in Gay Rights Debate
  2. Angela Merkel spotted changing swimwear in public

and check this out: SPIEGEL ONLINE Poll Barometer - SPIEGEL ONLINE where we see:

  • [even the polls look phoney, w/ the CDU-CSU perfectly flatlined for a month]
  • (and note that unlike the crappy greek polls, this one has a built-in CoalitionCalculator and slewie has ordered the home model from bavarianBenz)
  • {finally, there are not enuf pirates yet;  duh}
Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:49 | Link to Comment BlandJoe24
BlandJoe24's picture

why?

 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:40 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Self-Cannibalization? ... Those last few bites are going to be a real bitch to accomplish.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:40 | Link to Comment Dollar Bill Hiccup
Dollar Bill Hiccup's picture

One share to bid them all, One share to find them,
One share to short them all and in the darkness bind them

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:41 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I hear it tastes like chicken.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:41 | Link to Comment Itch
Itch's picture

It would be interesting to identify whether there were any "stand-out" parties involved in buying everything the Knight Algo was selling. When you think about it, it would be the perfect crime in today’s uber-complex market, i.e. some algo conveniently goes berserk, and another algo in another location conveniently buys everything it sells...then the company files for bankruptcy, several hundred million go missing with no one looking for it, and no one is prosecuted because it was an “accident”.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:57 | Link to Comment pods
pods's picture

Well GS actually did say their algo could be used to manipulate the market in unfair ways if stolen.

All algos are equal, but some are more equal than others.

pods

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:09 | Link to Comment tenpanhandle
tenpanhandle's picture

unfair in their case meant - someone else doing it.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 22:37 | Link to Comment MinnesotaMD
MinnesotaMD's picture

I agree. Maybe it was no accident. Maybe they were using Whack a mole algo to destroy KCG for someone's profit. Talk about corporate espionage reaching new levels. Who wrote the algo program? What prompted it to cannibalize KCG? I would love to get full post-mortem.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:45 | Link to Comment adr
adr's picture

The market seems to have broken at 2:30. I guess the Algo goal was to end the day unchanged.

The Dow had a nice triple top to almost the exact same price, and then fell 70 points, made the 70 points back and started going directionless for the next hour.

What algo driven madness will we find this time.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:47 | Link to Comment azzhatter
azzhatter's picture

I have $7K left in the market out of my $850K cash net worth. Haven't traded a stock in 14 months. Never felt better, couldn't care less what assholes like Cramer, Pisani, and the enumerous jackoffs paraded on TV have to say. I cashed in some 401K money early and paid a penalty 2 years ago to buy more metals. Fuck You Ben Bernanke

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:53 | Link to Comment PeaceLover
PeaceLover's picture

Nice did they 1099 you on the gold?

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:59 | Link to Comment Getting Old Sucks
Getting Old Sucks's picture

What Gold?

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:54 | Link to Comment OpenThePodBayDoorHAL
OpenThePodBayDoorHAL's picture

Stock Market Reverse Singularity: 1 Share of stock left, and BenB can mint 1 $10 Trillion Platinum Dollar Coin to buy it with.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:07 | Link to Comment Getting Old Sucks
Getting Old Sucks's picture

Cashed in half of IRA last year and will finish this year before taxes go up.  Cash is in 6 different banks, spread it around, don't go over that 250k mark and watch they don't lower it back to 100k.  Look for small solid banks.  If in NY area, Take a look at Ridgewood Savings on Bank Rate.

http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings.aspx?t=cb&i=ridgewood+savings&r=&a=&c=&s=&z=

Click on MEMO and STATEMENT to see the figures.  I have dough in 4 of the big banks and a credit union.  Largest deposit in Ridgewood.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:09 | Link to Comment SKY85hawk
SKY85hawk's picture

Have you considered converting some 401K money to a Roth-IRA?

Depending on your other income, some or all of the taxes would be consumed by your deductibles.

I use last year's turbo-tax to estimate the cost of a partial conversion in this year.

That money can then be steered towards additional tax free income!

 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:48 | Link to Comment chancee
chancee's picture

Must.  Close.  Above.   1400.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:52 | Link to Comment Getting Old Sucks
Getting Old Sucks's picture

It's there, on schedule.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:52 | Link to Comment Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

After being in the business so long it's almost surreal watching the system slowly kill itself off.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:58 | Link to Comment rottor
rottor's picture

HFT solution is simple, it is CAPTCHA

 

add captcha for every order entered .. and the volume will be back

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:22 | Link to Comment Zola
Zola's picture

One Printer to rule them all,
One Printer to confuse them
One Printer to bankrupt them all
and in poverty bind them.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:28 | Link to Comment rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

Well I guess we better hurry up and give Social Security to Wall Street and initiate forced employer stock purchases as well.

Lord.....just fucking crash already.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:28 | Link to Comment Meesohaawnee
Meesohaawnee's picture

Yesterday Bubblevision had a "story" about how SPY1400 "was the most hated rally on Wall Street" Hmm. While i have little time to spend everyday reading how CNBS urinates down its leg daily i could only guess. The real story was some "bull" standing all cocky (maybe it was robo?) telling all to just run with it , that anyone so negative "must be reading too much zerohedge". I kid you not. Whats so bothersome to me is IQs of 2 cant understand. Its not the algos in my world. The rally is hated because anyone with a brain knows its fake,fraudulent and on mom and pops dime. Its really just more Wall Street bailouts at the expense of the rest.  I just cant understand whats so difficult to understand about that??!!

 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:32 | Link to Comment bagehot99
bagehot99's picture

Mucho hi-quality stock tied up in long accounts, earning divvies. They won't know what hit them.

Wonders if retail sell orders will get drowned out by the algo sells when the journey over the cliff begins....

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 22:30 | Link to Comment MinnesotaMD
MinnesotaMD's picture

Algo sells are first in line. They'll unload like Knight, in milliseconds while you are still trying to log into Charles Schwab or TDA like me.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 16:49 | Link to Comment mammoth mo
mammoth mo's picture

Let's see fundamentals don't matter.  Earnings don't matter.  Outlook doesn't matter.  Cash on hand doesn't matter.  Sector outlook doesn't matter.  Recession doesn't matter.

It's clear there is no spoon.

 

 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 17:28 | Link to Comment Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

Why doubt that doing a triple on the money supply will do a triple on the stock market?  I was a hyper nflationist when they started the printing.  I still am.  I am telling you, YOU CANNOT HAVE A BANKING PANIC IF THE BANKS GET FREE MONEY.  Selloffs don't happen because of fundamentals.  They happen because of the macro environment.  Our macro-envirment is continued free money to banks at zero percent and lies about secret bailouts.  No banking panic, no selloff.

I hate to sound like Robo.  But he is right about exactly one thing.  This stock market is bullish until the Fed DECIDES to kill the banks.  The Treasury market is bullish until the Fed DECIDES to stop propping it up.

I don't like it.  I know it ends up in inflation.  If you want out, the absolute only thing you can do is buy gold.  That is it.  We don't have a market.  We have central planning and printing until hyper-inflation resets this mess. 

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 18:35 | Link to Comment Duke Dog
Duke Dog's picture

LOL, how in the fuke can you call the last 12 years in the equity market "BULLISH"? Granted, being short equities during most of that time would have ruined you due to margin fees, but being long during that entire time sure as hell wouldn't have been profitable if you had been proportionaly weighted in NASDAQ.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 19:08 | Link to Comment chump666
chump666's picture

short but excellent post ZH

This market s being eaten alive from within.

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 19:10 | Link to Comment toomanyfakecons...
toomanyfakeconservatives's picture

Scary... they'd better pull the trigger on the MASS ARREST soon... http://tinyurl.com/cd5cyjo/

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 20:01 | Link to Comment Ignorance is bliss
Ignorance is bliss's picture

I stopped trading about a year ago due to the collusion of the stock market. Fun while it lasted. I got rid of my 401K in 2010. I only wish I had broken it out over several years rather then swallowing the tax pill all at once. Better to be a couple years early then 1 day late.

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