To: Eski who wrote (398 ) 4/13/1998 7:18:00 PM From: TV Read Replies (2) | Respond to
Real Time products are based upon Information & Speed. Yes, redundancy is very, very important, but this only addresses the subject of network reliability not delivery technology. Redundancy is simply acheived through attaching more servers and more lines. However, if you drop or filter quotes (because the technological delivery platform can't effectively support the increased market activity without slowing down), or your quotes are shown AFTER everyone elses, then you are about to trade on a position that the instituitions have already left! Yes, redundancy can keep you up and running, but you might be seeing your quotes after everyone else has "left the premises". Has anyone compared how all of the quote vendors held up during the record 1.2 Billion trade day in October? For the most part I have, and this is a key subject here. Most "superior systems" crashed and burned or were slow to the point of unusable. The market will only get busier(!). A company whose sole "solution" is to purchase more servers/bandwidth is ignoring the true subject. A short time ago the average trade day was 200 million, and speed/content was not that big of an issue. However, with all of the 401k and pension money rolling into a 9000 DJ market, and with the intertwining of global economies, most quote systems are scrambling BIG-TIME to just stay at 10 minutes or less from "on-the mark". PCQuote claims their 1024 hyperfeed connection displays trades in 70 milliseconds from when the trade actually occurs! Most people don't realize that the words "real-time" apply to anything under 10 minutes from moment of execution. You can have a "real-time" Level II system that is showing "real-time" Level II quotes 9 and 1/2 minutes behind another "real-time" Level II system! This situation could easily occur with the most highly redundant quote systems in the world, if the data delivery technology is not geared to the higher trading days we are currently experiencing in the late 90's. Active traders who invest in a slow system, get what they deserve-losses. Remember, all level II systems are not equal. Here's are a couple of interesting topics: PCQuote doesn't filter quotes. Simply put, they don't have to. PCQuote has 95% of all the SOES trading shops in the USA as clients. Why? "Hyperfeed" Technology/1024kbps, multiple-redundancy, reliability, & COMPLETE EXCHANGE CONTENT IS displayed. This speed and content combination is largely responsible for the nation-wide "whining" of the marketmakers, who have watched the faster SOES traders whittle away at their previously exclusive profits. Why do they use PCQuote? Compare a PQT terminal against any other content providor, and WITNESS the difference-SPEED. Do this on a slow day and on a fast open/close. If you do this, you will QUICKLY see which one will make you the most money. Sorry for preaching, but I get tired of 66' Volkswagons claiming to be 99' Ferraris.
