> Ummm...so the only example where an HFT has helped someone out is the one where the HFT screwed up and lost money?
They haven't lost money until they sell at a lower price. The price could still go back up and the HFT would make money overall. But Fry is still better off in this case because he got to sell right away at a better price than he could have gotten if Leela wasn't around.
In this case, everyone benefited: Fry got to sell when he wanted at a better price than the non-HFT's were offering and Leela made money. Leela made money by taking on risk. Leela makes money overall only if she is smart enough to win more often than she loses.
They haven't lost money until they sell at a lower price. The price could still go back up and the HFT would make money overall. But Fry is still better off in this case because he got to sell right away at a better price than he could have gotten if Leela wasn't around.
In this case, everyone benefited: Fry got to sell when he wanted at a better price than the non-HFT's were offering and Leela made money. Leela made money by taking on risk. Leela makes money overall only if she is smart enough to win more often than she loses.