Traditional (old timers) traders are complaining to the authorities, but u don't hear them on the news. Higher Education will able u to look beyond what's is going on in the market. Higher Education!
Here is an interesting article: Trader ordered to pay $6.6 million in cheating scheme http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...heme-20120227_1_cheating-chicago-board-trader HFTs are squeezing traditional (oldtimers) traders coming up with an idea to cheat. HFT will blow u away traditional and small traders.
Floor traders have always cheated, which is exactly why there are so many rules about trading on the pit. Electronic trading eliminates a lot of the easiest ways to cheat. I believe I read the CFTC enforcement release on this case. One pit trader executed a large order (treasuries?) non-competitively with his buddy... basically winked and nodded a price below market, and then turned around and dumped their positions at market... swallowing huge profits.
the numbers of floor traders are declining. Probably obsolete by 2020. in other word, HFTs are squeezing them out the door.