Early 80s, I think. Your point being? If you're going to say that the markets are completely different now, please explain why and how.
Your laughter, combined with your need to ridicule me is ...when combined with this language translator cover you used years ago on others ...all of these things are clues. Something's not right, but there's so much more than reading your reactions ...that says the same thing. What's wrong urf. What are you covering up?
Sure, markets are radically different today. Decimals from fractions, HFT, and a host of regulatory changes creates a completely different playing field.
And vice versa : I know many professional traders/hedge fund managers, and traders here on elitetrader would laugh OUT ALOUD at the some of the strategies being used.
Actually Victor Niederhoffer (i don't know him personally though) is an example that comes to mind where a pro/hedge fund manager uses strategies that would be laughed out of this forum if they were suggested here, but he still makes money most of the time. Of course he blows up now and then, but what the hell! He's a PRO and he must be respected, right??!! Personally i have far more respect for Al Brooks and DBPhoenix.
Sure, we all know that. But exactly how has this made markets more random and less predictable? Because that's what you're implying, yes? The markets still have nice, daily swings to exploit. Up, down, up, down. And I don't understand how these swings are less predictable today than they were in the past, but please enlighten me.
Most just remember them being easier 10years ago, but in reality there just as unpredictable and hard to trade as they ever have been, no real change. If they where easy, we'd all be billionaires and money would be so worthless, it wouldn't buy you a bar of chocolate!
While we're waiting. Has everyone read page 5 of the link below? It's very short and succinct. You ever wanted to see urf speechless ... here it is .... http://www.elitetrader.com/et/index.php?threads/marketsurfers-confession.293328/page-5