[ by Howard Haykin ] The Future of the Markets May Depend on Conclusions Drawn at this Event. The SEC announced this week that it will host a technology roundtable in September 14th to discuss ways to promote stability in markets that rely on highly automated systems. The roundtable - "Technology and Trading: Promoting Stability in Today’s Markets" - will convene experts on designing, operating, and controlling the systems that form the core of our market’s infrastructure.  The importance of this topic cannot be overstated:

• Nearly all equity and options market trading depends on the reliable performance of highly automated systems used by investors, B/D's, and exchanges and other trading systems.
• "Reliance on technology has enabled the markets to achieve extraordinary levels of speed and efficiency," said SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, who added:
• "But with technology comes a responsibility for getting it right, minimizing errors and protecting the interests of investors."

The roundtable discussions will be focused on the design and control of all types of automated market systems. When these systems do not work as intended, the failures can directly harm not only the operator of the system but in some cases a range of other innocent parties.

"The roundtable is part of the Commission’s ongoing effort to keep pace with the rapid changes in market structure and technology over the last several years.  I look forward to hearing the views of experienced technologists on how we can strengthen the stability of our market structure while still preserving the many benefits of electronic trading." --  Chairman Schapiro.

For further details, go to:  [SEC PR 12-153, 8/8/12].