On: Is technical analysis just stock market astrology?

[hammock]

>High frequency trading is knowing about recent trades sooner than others. That's where the profit comes in.

btilly's comment has a good practical explanation of HFT that expands on this

[chollida1 → hammock]

This is not front running.

You having a faster computer and network is just your alpha.

Front running is where I take your order to buy a large amount of a stock and buy some for my self first before executing your order.

Being faster is perfectly legal.

Trading Based on a clients order is not.

[AnotherGoodName → hammock]

I very specifically said knowing about recent trades - note the past tense.