More on dark pools and trading

The rise of dark pools has been noted by many. Such execution services now handle about 10 percent of all shares traded each day. They sport cool names like Liquidnet, Sigma X, VortEx and the like. They are also proliferating. According to MarketWatch, a host of them have sprung in the last few months. Clearly, the buyside values the ability to consummate trades quickly, anonymously and in bulk. But this dark pool trading is a bit unregulated, and some think some huge conflicts are brewing. The SEC has taken note. In June, the NYSE will launch MatchPoint, an after-hours crossing network. There are many approaches to dark pool services, and a lot of competition. You have to figure that consolidation will occur at some point. Until then, the field is wide open.

For more:
- here's the MarketWatch article