SEC – Markets Are Not Rigged
Mary Jo White, head of the SEC told Congress that the allegations in Michael Lewis’ new book about high-frequency trading markets are false. She bluntly stated that the “markets are not rigged.” I know Mary Jo White personally and I am no fan to say the least. However, on this comment she is correct.
White’s comments came almost a month following Lewis’ book was published. Lewis has re-ignited a fierce debate over the role of high-speed trading. The proposition is that the computers are fast and leave some investors at an unfair disadvantage. Lewis has alleged that high-speed traders are front-running orders whereby the firms are able to quickly identify an investor’s desire to buy stock, rush to buy it first and then sell it back at a higher price.
Lewis’ book has sparked the FBI, the U.S. Attorney General, New York state prosecutors and the SEC all into action to investigate the practices of high-speed firms. White made it clear that if computers try to anticipate what a client will do, that ”is not unlawful insider-trading.” There is a substantial difference between computers responding fast and having a look at orders before they are entered.
When I was trading for the Onassis holdings in Platinum, I had to get approval and prove to the CFTC that the amount of metal actually existed since it was up to 40% of the market cap. Even back then, trying to trade when everyone knew what you had, was not easy to say the least. Nonetheless, it taught me HOW to trade.
I would have to buy gold and then silver to set the stage where the market-makers attempt to read you and move the spreads between bid and ask in the direction they think you will go. Buying related markets made them think I would buy platinum. The spreads moved in that directions and then I would sell taking deliberate small losses in the gold and silver. This was not “front-running” for they did not know the order in advance. Had I gave an order and they jumped in front of that order assuming they would cover using my orders, that was front-running.
There is still a way to set-up the high-frequency trading system that they would not be capable of reacting in a real poker-game.
Consequently, I am no fan of Mary Jo White. I have every reason to disagree with here just because it is her. However, analysis cannot be personal. So sorry – she is right. This is not front-running, it is just rapid response time in anticipation of what is to come. That is not illegal for even then it is not 100% guaranteed trade. I would bet anything I could deal with a high-frequency trading system for they lack human intuition.
Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian Rally turned Bloody – 7 Kidnapped Presumed Murdered
The peaceful rally yesterday in Donetsk by pro-Ukrainians in the East who do not want to join Russia turned bloody and violent. You can no longer find Ukrainian flags for sale – only Russian in the stores. Countless people were beaten as the police did absolutely nothing. However, 7 were kidnapped and believed to be the organizers that everyone fears will be tortured, killed, and thrown naked in the forest. Pro-Russians beat Pro-Ukrainians with clubs and chains. These seem to be the same hired thugs that Yanukovich employed in Maidan.
Sanctions will NOT save these people and their property has become unsalable. They cannot even leave lacking any money to travel. They will be oppressed if they survive and hated. Even in Moscow, people from the various regions are discriminated against and the people do not see them as “Russian” in any event. This is all about controlling landmass that is perceived to be power and the Russian people support expanding the country. What exactly they will do with regions that are oppressed economically, there seems to be a void of any long-term plan here. The Eastern Ukraine is the poorest region that will be a drain upon the Russian economy – not a benefit.
Ukrainian News Reports US Has Intercepted Communication of Moscow Directing Pro-Russians in Eastern Ukraine
The Ukrainian version of Pravda (Truth) has reported that US intelligence has intercepted a conversation between the Kremlin and its spies in Eastern Ukraine. All of our sources and plain common sense with men in professional military uniforms without markings does not hide the fact that Russia has already invaded and controls the Eastern region of Ukraine.
European Banks & Massive Exposure to Russia – Oops!
Just as the American banks ran with open-arms into South America during the 1970s and ended up with loans defaulting, we may see the economic war against Russia backfire as lawyer-politicians never seem to comprehend this is a global economy with all sorts of intricate entanglements. We may see that the European banking crisis simply implode even far worse than anyone could possibly imagine. Not only are European banks “zombies” from the perspective of European debt, but then whatever they could have done wrong, they did in grand style.
The future looks especially dangerous for Europe’s banks because they also ran into Russia with open-arms expecting a boom in emerging markets to last forever as took place in China. This was the same development of lending in the South Sea Bubble and the Mississippi Bubble that both burst in 1720. Just for the record, 309.6 years from that crisis year will be 2029-2030 taking us into the conclusion of this wave. The first financial bubble after the Dark Age was the Tulip Bubble of 1637. The 309.6 year anniversary of that curiously was the whole start of this current economic nightmare – 1946 and the start of Bretton Woods. This was the beginning of spending and never paying anything off – the Ponzi Scheme of national debts.
European Banks have massive loan exposure to Russian companies. The systemic risk that they cannot be bailed out if there is a continuation of the Russia v West confrontation is rising into plain view. We may see the complete meltdown of European banks and their debt markets unfold as this European banking crisis continues in full motion. This is the blood that Putin can smell. Go ahead – put sanctions on Russia that will never work anyhow and watch Europe implode from a banking crisis and a further drop in GDP. This will send unemployment even higher. Of course, the lawyer-politicians will target only defense while trying to continue to provide it food. They think they can target their sanctions and this will allow them to collect debts and sell food – having your cake and eating it too.
This is the downside of lawyer-politicians. They are ignorant of what makes the world economy function and believe they are demigods armed with pens to degree by absolute command what the economy should and should not do next. Good luck. These people are crazy BECAUSE voters are stupid. Hence, they are like 2-year olds just testing to see how much they can keep getting away with.