AFL-CIO Attacks Freq Traders

The nation's largest labor union in concert with many Democrats are pushing a tax on high-frequency trading, the type of trading that has contributed big profits to Goldman Sachs among others:

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/56789-afl-cio-d…

Basically, they're calling for a one-tenth of one percent tax on every stock transaction, so that individual investors won't notice the tax but it will eat into a significant portion of large program traders' profits.

Ultimately designed to discourage ultra-fast short-term trading, it will be interesting to see what will happen if this passes.

 

Firstly, why does the AFL-CIO care?

Secondly, what do they think will happen to retail investors when liquidity dries up and spreads widen? They may be too ignorant to notice, but in aggregate they will certainly bear the cost.

Thirdly, I hope these communists realize that, for every job in finance lost because of this shit, three of their jobs shoveling shit will disappear.

Of course, even if they could understand any of those points, I doubt they could count high enough to get there. Honestly, reading the news these days makes me physically ill.

 

Why do so many morons think it's wrong to make money these days? I read the news nowadays and everyday some other BS comes out attacking someone for making too much money and the only thing it does is make me want to become obnoxiously rich just to rub it in these tools' faces.

 

When will Main Street figure out that Bonuses(comission)structure on Wall Street is no different than any other commission job?! You get a single, sometimes dual digit % of what you bring in. When GS gives its top trader or banker a 10M bonus, it's not for sh** n giggles, it's because he made the firm at least 100M. Why not tell the salesman at Saks that he'll only collect $1 on the $8000 custom Armani suit he sold?! I agree w. franklin. Way to hate on those that chose to make money.

 

It's amazing that this legislation would also affect that company they were talking about in the WSJ the other day. I cannot imagine how many people they would lay off because of this...

perhaps the co's will just need to make better algorithms

 
Best Response

Before opining on this, I'd want more inquiry into high-frequency systems. Providing liquidity is important, but picking up fractions of pennies whilst front-running institutional orders should be restrained.

Everybody who has, does or anticipates working in finance should start considering that the industry contributes an inordinate amount to GDP; so large, in fact, that it brings all forms of the EMH - which your laissez-faire arguements are predicated upon - into doubt.

GS has spent hundreds of millions developing this software - is this really a productive investment. Sure, it improves their bottom line, but does it really serve what the financial industry's purpose should be?

I think it's time we all start thinking about value-added.

 

Ratione alias magni est est quaerat consequatur. Voluptatem quam saepe in consequuntur perspiciatis excepturi. Rerum distinctio libero totam quos consequatur in dolorem dolorem.

Iusto maxime recusandae et consequatur consequatur maxime quis. Ea doloremque non magnam quidem asperiores et. Hic eos sint possimus dolore et voluptatem adipisci est. Soluta hic nihil aut non repudiandae consequuntur.

Ut rem tempore voluptatem velit natus hic accusamus. Incidunt asperiores aut voluptas similique vero et ratione. Quasi error repellat nulla perspiciatis nostrum. Beatae ad delectus vero praesentium itaque. Ullam debitis ut numquam quia.

Quo eaque quos magni pariatur delectus. Sunt deleniti vel et excepturi quia qui sint. Dolor qui quam corporis quod sed. Laboriosam quasi fugit magnam sit quia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”