Nerds on Wall Street Math, Machines and Wired Markets [Hardcover]

An intriguing look at how technology is changing financial markets, from an innovator on the frontlines of this revolution

Nerds on Wall Street tells the tale of the ongoing technological transformation of the world's financial markets. The impact of technology on investing is profound, and author David Leinweber provides readers with an overview of where we were just a few short years ago, and where we are going. Being a successful investor today and tomorrow--individual or institutional--involves more than stock picking, asset allocation, or market timing: it involves technology. And Leinweber helps readers go beyond the numbers to see exactly how this technology has become more responsible for managing modern markets. In essence, the financial game has changed and will continue to change due entirely to technology. The new players, human or otherwise, offer investors opportunities and dangers. With this intriguing and entertaining book, Leinweber shows where technology on Wall Street has been, what it has meant, and how it will impact the markets of tomorrow.

Foreword by Ted Aronson xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Part One 1 Wired Markets

Chapter 1: An Illustrated History of Wired Markets 5

Chapter 2: Greatest Hits of Computation in Finance 31

Financial Technology Stars; Hits and Misses; The Crackpot as Billionaire; Future Technological Stars; Mining the Deep Web; Language Technology; EDGAR; Greatest Hits, and the Mother of All Greatest Misses

Chapter 3: Algorithm Wars 65

Early Algos; Algos for Alpha; Algos for the Buy Side; From Order Pad to Algos; A Scientifi c Approach; Job Insecurity for Traders; So Many Markets, So Little Time;l“+