They do interpret the news faster and the format of the news is specialized for automated parsing. The feed also has lower latency. So in the end they trade faster.
Yeah relationship does have values except when shit hits the fan and you all of sudden realize everything you hold has no value then you dump them as fast as you can to those who have relationship with you. It's the critical times when you are supposed to see true friendship, the REAL relationship values but in Wall Street, it's the critical times when relationship values goes out of the door! Whoever screws the other people first and best wins à la Goldman Sachs.
Yeah that I know but they don't really RECEIVE the ACTUAL news feed faster, that's what I wanted to confirm.
If you develop true relationships, they last through crises and deliver eventually. I have seen people who moved from field to field purely based on connections etc. I have seen hedge funds raise money on a handshake alone.
Long time ago, I told my boss I was resigning and my reasoning was "I am just a cow in search of greener pastures"