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I was very interested in HFT when I was in uni. Then I discovered the minimum sunk costs of running a HFT startup and my balls shrank.

So now I create my own matching markets which is still based on high speed trading theories, but without the pressure.

But if ever you're interested, my email is my username here at gmail



Then I discovered the minimum sunk costs of running a HFT startup and my balls shrank.

Care to elaborate?


Everything matters if you're doing HFT (or back in the day, high speed algorithmic trading). In Australia, the support for algorithmic trading means you're required to house your server in ASX itself (ASX has recently introduced their HFT platform in 2011). And that meant ball-shrinking dollar values from place rental alone, not to mention the hardware and software times.

So I concluded that it's not where I could be.


You mean minimum capital investment? Sunk cost doesn't seem to be the right term in this context. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_costs


TIL I fail as an economist.


And that meant ball-shrinking dollar values from place rental alone, not to mention the hardware and software times.

I got the first part of that, but what do you mean by "hardware and software times"? Yes, HFT relies on fast hardware/networks/software. Was that your point, or is there something I'm missing?

FWIW, despite a strong entrepreneurial bent, I would (possibly even will) look to join an existing HFT operation, rather than start my own.

(Unless you want to do it in the Bitcoin world - there is a Bitcoin stock exchange now and it's exciting times, my friend!)


as in time spent to tune your hardware and software.

I do currently trade BTC. Not at a large volume though. My startups require more money than my hobby




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