I see your point about the risk, but is there really that much activity in most stocks that getting to the top of the sell pile would be a large enough issue? As I understand some order types were more or less designed to give HFT an edge.
Although I suppose the profits to be made by any strategy dry up pretty quickly as more shops discover it, so it does make sense to me that this doesn't appear to be done any more. I mean, isn't that what worked a few months ago doesn't work any more is the only thing most people posting about HFT can agree about? :D
I have no experience in electronic trading and my knowledge of it mostly comes from HN posts and - as you guessed correctly - Flash Boys, so please forgive my ignorance
> As I understand some order types were more or less designed to give HFT an edge.
And some order types are more or less designed to give large block traders an edge.
Most of the latency game you read about is not getting to trade, its getting the opportunity to cancel your orders. A common misconception is that HFT groups are acting as middle men. They aren't. They are the counter parties on all the exchanges, they are just updating what they are offering faster than others.
Although I suppose the profits to be made by any strategy dry up pretty quickly as more shops discover it, so it does make sense to me that this doesn't appear to be done any more. I mean, isn't that what worked a few months ago doesn't work any more is the only thing most people posting about HFT can agree about? :D
I have no experience in electronic trading and my knowledge of it mostly comes from HN posts and - as you guessed correctly - Flash Boys, so please forgive my ignorance