Get stock information ahead of other investors? It can be done, it would seem, and there are also those who, according to the Wall Street Journal, have already done it: just pay and you can receive sensitive macroeconomic data a few seconds before others. And a few seconds, in high or very high speed trading time, can make all the difference in the world.
As reported by the US newspaper, on 15 March a group of traders allegedly obtained the data of the consumer confidence index, an index capable of influencing market trends, ahead of other investors, thus being able to bet on a negative turnaround on the Stock Exchange, in the wake of a disappointing figure.
All very profitable, and also, somewhat surprisingly, perfectly legal, since there is no regulation relating to the publication of financial statistics by private institutions such as universities or research institutes. Statistics which, therefore, can be purchased without problems, obtaining enormous advantages. A disturbing cone of shadow within the legislation of the markets: in Washington they would already be thinking about how to put a stop to this practice.
