Friday, February 9, 2018

The Stock Market, the Rise of the Machines and the SEC



For the last two weeks we are witnessing the market go down, go up and then take another nose dive and is now down approximately 10%.  Yet the economy does not appear to be affected as this economy seems to grow in jobs, salaries and production.
What we have learned as a result of this ripple in the market is the rise of the machines.  What many investors did not know is that firms are using computers that have algorithms that will automatically buy or sell when the market reaches a preset level either up or down.  What this does is buying and selling is done almost instantly while the small investor must call their broker to either buy or sell that cannot keep up with the speed of the machines.  So, the brokers and their firms are making money, protecting their investment by the programmed machines. Unfortunately, it appears the machines have over reacted and we are witnessing the result.  We know the market was growing at an enormous rate and a correction was inevitable, but what we are witnessing is what can happen when you let machines and not humans control events.

We now have to wonder will these machines have their programs improved to avoid these types of events or those in control of the machines are enjoying the money being made and may just wait a while longer while the small investor gets taken to the cleaners.  
I believe the SEC must investigate and explain this to the public.  When the rich and powerful can buy low and sell high and then buy when the stocks decline that are caused by programmed machines, makes one wonder are we being used.

The rise of the machines was the theme in the Terminator movies.  I wonder?


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