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US: High-speed trading catches DOJ’s attention

By  |  April 6, 2014

The US Department of Justice is set to launch an inquiry into the practice of using computer algorithms and high-speed data networks to conduct high-frequency trading, reports say, over speculation the act could violate antitrust laws.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder announced plans to investigate the practice Friday in front of the House Appropriates Committee. While the act has been widespread for several decades, a recently-published book, Flash Boys by Michael Lewis, has brought the practice into the forefront of Wall Street scrutiny.

What’s more, say reports, AG Holder has under pressure from Democrats to crack down on anticompetitive behavior in the financial sector.

High-frequency trading is used by companies that hire experts to predict market fluctuations at last-minute, helping the company execute trades, reports say.

Full Content: LA Times

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