The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is now getting in on an insider trading investigation regarding high-frequency trading. This method of trading has come under much more intense scrutiny after Michael Lewis released the “Flash Boys” book that aims to expose how high-frequency trading has rigged the financial markets against the little guy.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is testifying before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies on Friday, and this is where Holder confirmed the DOJ investigation.
Holder’s said:
In the financial sector, concerns have been raised recently about a practice called “high-frequency trading.” This practice, which consists of financial brokers and trading firms using advanced computer algorithms and ultra-high speed data networks to execute trades, has rightly received scrutiny from regulators. I can confirm that we at the Justice Department are investigating this practice to determine whether it violates insider trading laws. The Department is committed to ensuring the integrity of our financial markets — and we are determined to follow this investigation wherever the facts and the law may lead.
24/7 Wall St. would point out that this seems like a last-minute addition to the testimony. The testimony includes issues around national security and terrorism, but it also deals with the president’s budget, financial settlements, the Prison Rape Elimination Act and more.
Also note that the scrutiny of high-frequency trading may be why the highly anticipated initial public offering of Virtu Financial has been delayed.
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