If I wanted to visit an exchange and watch trading from the pits or spend a few days learning more about trading in the pits what would be the best approach? Thank you
The last time I was in Chicago (5 years ago), I wanted to go to the CME to visit. I was told that since 9/11, they no longer allowed visitors. Does this still apply today?
Really depends what kind of pit you're talking about but eveyrthing ends on on t&s. There are exchange reports whose who job is just to keep the t&s pretty accurate. Also the guys in the pit has a duty to get stuff on the tape right away. Its a lot better these days then it used to be. You can visit most exchanges and watch from some visitors gallery. If you go to any of the equity options exchanges you wont see much these days besides a bunch of guys standing around with computers. There are very few equity based options pits these days that are mostly open outcry.
will new pits ever be created or is it a dying piece of history? Will pits for alternative fuels be born?..like ethanol and vegetable oil?
Sign up for TradersAudio.com ($125/month - sp squawk box) then ask Ben if he can take u onto the floor for a session. Or hang out at Ceres cafe in the lobby of the board and try to network with some locals who hang out there
Yes, this still applies. The only way I know of to get on the floor would be to have a trader with a seat take you in personally. That is how I was able to tour the floor. To be hoenst, there isn't much going on at the CME anymore as the pits are already moving down the street to the CBOT. There is a documentary entitled "Floored" coming out about the CME and pit trading coming out in 2009. It is being shot by a trader at the CME. Looks like it will be a great piece. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-floored-movie-cmemar03,0,6977071.story www.flooredthemovie.com