Artificial Unintelligence – Why we see a lot of one share trades

Member Email:

Hi good folk – Just wondering why so many one share trades go through the market and how could it be possible to make money out of it? Eg. Afterpay (APT) this afternoon – so many. Long term member. Yours Jim

Reply:

Hello Jim – A lot of institutional (large) orders are now being managed by computers which replaces the need for human dealers to watch the market all day. The computers are given parameters for the orders they are asked to operate/execute. One of the common parameters is that the computer can only do x% of the volume traded at any point during that day – it is designed to stop it smashing a price. If you didn’t have any parameters it could just smash the price down with the whole order straight away. So they have to be told to go slowly.

So if the computer is only allowed to do say 10% of the volume of the day and they have an order to sell (or buy) 100,000 shares then they need at least 1,000,000 shares to trade in total that day to complete the order. So if 100,000 shares trade in the first hour they can sell (or buy) 10,000. Then when another 100,000 trade in the next hour they can sell another 10,000. And so on. So they do this incrementally all day until the order is complete.

This means that if another ten shares trade they sell one share. So what happens is that when say ten computers are operating orders at the same time in the same stock one computer sells a share which allows another computer to sell a share which allows another computer to sell a share which allows another computer to sell a share and on it goes. In an illiquid stock like APT the parameters are set like this, sensitively, incrementally, because even a small order could smash the price – so the computer “fiddles” rather than operates the order and this is the result… computers dealing with each other in tiny amounts. Of course humans wouldn’t bother, but computers aren’t human. It’s called AU – Artificial Unintelligence. It’s how Skynet got started. I hope that makes sense.

Source: Marcus Today (13/2/2019)

 

“Pinnacle always provides an excellent service. [My Advisor] has provided outstanding support to my two daughters and I since the death of my husband in August 2020. I would be happy to recommend this service to others.”
Margaret NRetired
“The Pinnacle team has guided the management of our financial circumstances for over 20 years, successfully navigating at least 3 significant economic cycles. Services have been rendered with total integrity and focus on our personal aspirations. During this time we have greatly appreciated the extension of PWM resources to assist a number of family members responding to particular situations along their personal lives' journeys.
Trevor & Carolyn CConsultants
“Pinnacle Wealth Management, who most importantly created a sound financial future for our comfortable retirement, go way beyond being a financial advisor, providing support to us and our children, as their needs have changed, at a strongly personable level. Their client focus is exemplary.”
Barry TRetired Accountant
“We have been Pinnacle clients for many years and have always found their advice to be considered relevant. The administration team is professional, courteous and timely. No hesitation in recommending the Pinnacle Team.”
Damien WRetired Head of Commercial Banking
“A friend recommended Pinnacle Wealth Management to me, having worked with them on his mother's behalf for many years. I'm so grateful to him - my Financial Advisor is brilliant, totally approachable, not as I'd imagined! I now have much greater clarity about financial management and greater peace of mind. For my money, they're the best financial planners in Adelaide.”
Jackie HCommunications Consultant
 “We are long term friends of [Pinnacle Wealth Management] having been clients since its inception. We have appreciated the professional advice and also the care and friendliness of [our advisor] and staff."
Ian WRetired
"We have been clients at [Pinnacle Wealth Management] for about 20 years. It has been a very enjoyable and profitable time for us. We have been safely steered through the GFC, both our retirements and various other major events that have shaped the nature of financial planning in our world. Through the entire time we have been delighted with the care and careful management of our funds through the leadership of [our now retired advisor] and the friendly and efficient support of all the ancillary staff. He has become a personal friend as well as the person whom we trust implicitly to handle our portfolio and to give us sage and pertinent advice on many areas of our concern. We will miss his presence but we are sure that he has chosen well with [our new advisor], and we look forward to forging a similar relationship with him.'"
Ray & Lyn HRetired
"We have been clients of [Pinnacle Wealth Management] since the inception of the business, about 20 years ago. Overall, we have been very pleased with the long-term handling of our financial affairs, the financial strategy implemented and the regular reviews to make sure we remain on track to achieve our goals. This includes regular informative communications. It has been great to receive sound advice and personalised service, tailored to our needs, covering many different tasks. When an emergency occurred, the excellent and swift service we received from the staff [at Pinnacle] was greatly appreciated. We wholeheartedly recommend [Pinnacle Wealth Management] as a Financial Adviser."
Kelvin & Melanie TConsultant
"My association with [my advisor] began many years ago, with a requirement to diversify my portfolio from bricks and mortar to Australian and International equities. At that time [my advisor] worked for another financial services business. I had no hesitation in following [my advisor] to Pinnacle. [My advisor] has the qualifications, but it is his experience and guidance that have been the founding safeguard for my family and I throughout the varying market conditions. [My advisors] expertise and guidance throughout the years has provided us in achieving our goals along with our family needs. His innovation and tailored strategies have kept us on track in reaching our desired endgame.
Tony SMaintenance
Previous
Next
Book a free consultation

Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisors are Authorised Representatives of
Pinnacle Dealer Services Pty Ltd, ABN 53 630 368 302, AFS Licence number 513743.

© 2024 Pinnacle Wealth Management
Website & Commercial Photography by Drawcard
Words by Jacqui