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Designing Systems for High Frequency Traders

Guest Post — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:55:57 +0000

Over the last few years, the stock markets have become dominated by high frequency traders and the computerised algorithmic trading systems they use to generate buy and sell orders and submit them to the market.

But how are these systems actually designed? What are some of the key steps that computer scientists have to take when developing, testing and implementing these incredibly complex high frequency trading systems?

Well, the process certainly is not a simple one. However, like any machine, the key to building something that works well and works efficiently is in adopting and following a design and development framework built around a quality framework.

These priniciples are fairly universal and fall into four key phases.

First, you need to understand what outputs you want from the machine and determine the detailed specifications for those outputs.

Second, you build a prototype, focusing on the most complex parts. During this stage you want to be able to see if the machine can take in the appropriate data, process it and output the results in line with your specifications.

Third, you actually build the machine itself.

Fourth, once you have a working machine, you continually monitor output and perfomance, to ensure it is doing its job efficiently and effectively.

By monitoring performance and continuously back-testing during this final phase, systems designers are able to fine-tune and tweak the necessary parameters to ensure continuous improvement (a process known as Kaizan).

Whether a machine is being built for some kind of high-throughput industrial engineering function or for a “black box” algorithmic trading system used by a hedge fund, the four core principles outlined above are the same.

High frequency trading relies completely on efficient, effective, reliable and incredibly fast computer systems that do their job day in and day out. By adopting a quality approach to systems design and development, today’s computer scientists are developing machines that can potentially make millions of dollars on the stock market every day, creating what are in effect money-making machines.

VoIP Setup | Phone Adapter

Guest Post — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:47:56 +0000

With VoIP technology, making and receiving calls via the internet is quite easy, fast, and cheap compared to the conventional handset. Any phone will do when using VoIP and the cost of having VoIP is small compared to working with a telephone company. Setting up VoIP right at home is quite easy as long as you have all of the needed items. The following is a brief VoIP setup guide.

When setting up VoIP, the first thing to prepare is the VoIP phone adapter. In order to use an analog telephone, you’ll need to connect the phone to the VoIP adapter. There are companies that offer free services to use the VoIP ATA adapter. The service provider where the VoIP adapter is purchased should include instructions on how to set up the adapter with the telephone. There are some VoIP phone adapters that need a connection between the cable modem and the router of the computer while some phone adapters need only the router of computer as a connection.

The telephone should be connected to the one of the line ports in the VoIP phone adapter. Any analog phone will do when working with this type of connection. Then the next thing to do is to try and plug in the phone adapter. This phone adapter should be plugged in at all times in order to receive and make calls any time.

As the phone adapter is starting up, wait for another couple of minutes before starting to use it. Sometimes, some updates may be needed in order to change the firmware or upgrade the features of the VoIP phone adapter. These updates can be readily downloaded on the internet. Downloading is usually automatic and while the download is running, the phone adapter should never be unplugged or interrupted. After a while, test the telephone and see if it works, pick up the telephone receiver and if there is a dial tone then the installation of VoIP was successful; you can now make and receive calls.

Getting a VoIP setup is quite easy, as long as you have a high speed internet connection and a phone adapter (although having high VoIP QOS is not that easy). There are a lot of service providers that offer installation instructions. The phone adapter features and specifications vary from one service provider to another. The setup process varies but the good thing about this technology is that it is less expensive than the telephone services offered and set up by some telephone companies. As long as the VoIP phone adapter is always plugged in, the user can always receive and make calls anytime and anywhere at very affordable call rates.

Data Governance Software

Guest Post — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:42:06 +0000

Data governance is about comprehending and managing an organization’s data; in order to do this there must be a software system in place. Most companies either have a software designer create specific software for their data governance needs or use software that is available commercially. One risk in using off the shelf software is that it may not be well-adept in the way the system works within the organization. Commercially available data governance software is designed to work in many situations and organizations; therefore it may not be able to fit the specific needs of a particular company. A drawback of custom software is the designer may know how to create the software, but may not have enough of an understanding of how the software should work with the different departments; thus creating software that is less than effective.

To avoid these situations, larger companies now have IT personnel and software designers as part of their data governance team. Their main goal is to ensure that there are qualified individuals in place to develop new software as needed and to monitor the quality of the existing data governance system. By having this dedicated team, they understand the program better because they are exposed to the entire enterprise and have a working knowledge of the needs and goals of the data governance program.

Some companies elect to have a third party provide data governance services and design software. These services may include a data quality workshop; this is when a team of third party data governance analysts and developers visit an organization and observe how data is managed. Another service offered by third party contractors is strategic planning services; this is done to help an organization formulate ideas and solutions to ensure a flawless execution of data governance software. Data governance planning is another service that aids in recognizing areas in need of improvement. Each part of data governance system needs to be accurate in order for the whole system to function accurately.

Data governance is extremely important to the efficient operation of an organization; and software can only do part of the work. Effective data governance is a combination of suitable software and a team of appropriate and efficient people behind the system.

The key to stock market success is to constantly monitor your stock performance

Guest Post — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:41:03 +0000

Anyone who has invested in the stock market knows well that the game of the market is totally dependent on stock performance. It works on the simple objective that if your stock is performing well then your money is growing and If the stocks are going down means that you are losing on all the money. Therefore, stock performance is the guiding force for all your stock market investments. Therefore, it is of prime importance that you constantly monitor your stock so that you don’t lose on any of your investments. You can simply meet your financial advisor who will guide you on your investment based on the market trends. Obviously, if you have hired a financial advisor you are paying a price for it.

You can do this all for free by simply downloading some software, which will monitor the stock performance. This software will constantly monitor the performance of the stock and will send you regular alerts. Be sure that you download a genuine software out of the various junk available so that you are not misinformed with your stocks. If you are a company in Australia, which has recently gone public with your initial public offer. Then the Australian stock market performance will determine the success of your stocks. If your stocks are over bought then it will mean that you will have a successful Lipo whereas an unsubscribed Lipo would mean a failure. This online software will guide you whether to go in for an Lipo or to hold back be it in Australia or any part of the world. So important is performance of stock that not only will it determine your current investment, but it will also guide you in your future investment. If a particular stock is performing well in a market then you can safely invest in this stock and vice versa. To sum it all up before putting in your cash in any stocks monitor its performance properly. Visit Forex Robot Investing for more information.

Altec Lansing Computer Subwoofers

Guest Post — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:42:07 +0000

The Altec Lansing MX6021 Expressionist Ultra is a monstrous computer subwoofer that looks like it has the power to shake the pictures off your walls. Although power is not the only requirement for computer subwoofers, it is certainly one of the most important aspects. One great feature about the Expressionist Ultra is that it can go extremely loud with the sound distorting. Unfortunately, the smaller speakers have less powerful woofers which cannot keep up with the sub volumes, so they may buzz at high volume levels.

The speaker design is a sporty, old school design that will suit most PCs quite well. The shape is a little hard to describe, basically it is a long cylinder with a clear plate acting as a kick stand for it. The main color is black, although there are some clear plastic parts as well. The computer subwoofer speakers have a triangular look to them, except for the cylinder woofers. The speakers cannot be removed, but enough wiring is provided so they can be placed distantly away from each other. The subwoofer speakers also include a 3.5 mm cable to plug into your PCA, along with an adapter for setups that use RCA outputs.

Although the Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra is better than most other computer subwoofers, the audio should only be played at moderate levels if you do not want the speakers to distort. The computer subwoofer speaker system looks like it has enough power to knock your socks off, but the woofers will rattle if you try to over crank them. They are still far better most other PC subwoofers, but don’t expect them to have the power of a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system. Priced over the $200 dollar range, you can afford to a little extra picky when it comes to choosing powerful subwoofer setups for your computer.

Software for Master Data Management

Guest Post — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:46:05 +0000

Master data management software is a self-contained solution to managing corporate data. Suitable well-organized master data management software will allow for better management and direction in any business. This software will allow access to critical information necessary for making appropriate decisions in all aspects of business.

An applicable master data management software package will allow a business to predict trends, create new services, interact with customers and suppliers and manage personnel. Functions of master data management software allows for the synchronization of all aspects of business. Including sales and after sales, products and supplies, marketing, accounting, risk management, government regulatory reporting and trade reconciliation.

The master files of master data management include three basic subjects: people, location and assets. The master data management software you choose for your company should be extremely thorough and accurate, and, simultaneously manage the right process and data flow. The central purpose of any sound master data management software is to have uncorrupted data. Companies should steer clear of bundling many different applications that could conflict with each other, especially with networking and sharing.

One advantage of an effective master data management software package is allowing the company to operate more efficiently, therefore translating into better performances and increased profits. An effective way to analyze master data management software is by examination of the company’s organizational chart, this will allow you to see the major areas of the company and how they come together. This will give the opportunity to identify any gaps and construct a more precise data base.

Master data management software can translate into a more efficiently managed business. The use of this software will allow for better customer service and quicker, better informed decisions from management. It will also allow for the accurate tracking of all transactions concerning purchasing and production. In other words, as long as the “proper rules” for data entry have been applied, master data management software will guarantee that employees as well as management and owners will function more efficiently with less wasted time due to inconsistencies and misinformation.

ERP and CRM Software Providers

Guest Post — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:12:07 +0000

Finding the right CRM software for your company’s needs requires a critical decision making process. In order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in your business operations, you will need a good CRM package. One of the best things to do is to compare the features and advantages of each of the CRM software providers and decide which is the closest to aligning with your company’s strategy.

One feature you’ll definitely want to consider is enterprise resource planning. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) handles the human resources, finances, accounting, and supply management of a company. On the other hand, customer relationship management (CRM) deals with the sales, marketing, and service support business activities. Getting these two systems to talk to each other makes each a more powerful tool in achieving customer satisfaction as well as meeting your business profitability goals. There are a lot of CRM providers that already integrate ERP into their applications. Some of the providers that do this are listed below:

SAP, which is considered the pioneer of ERP and serves already 38,000 customers worldwide, enables the company to have improved operations in their whole business. Oracle, SAP’s primary database, has been in the industry for almost 30 years now and has extended its business with PeopleSoft, Siebel, JD Edwards and other CRM providers to boot. Merging with these companies gives Oracle a solid edge against its competitors. It is used by almost 4.6 millions users worldwide in different industries.

NetSuite is already a leader in providing enterprise quality technology both for small and medium sized businesses. It is hosted software that caters to forecasting, sales management, dashboards, product catalogs and document management activities.

Epicor is another CRM provider you might want to check out, which by the way was named in the Fortune Magazine as one of the100 Fastest Growing Companies in 2006. Yes, this is a bit outdated, but it shows that the company has a solid foundation.

What more would a company look for from a CRM provider that has already integrated both ERP and CRM in their solutions? ERP was already designed to manage most of the company’s business units; adding CRM technology to it rounds out the business with the marketing department. The benefits are doubled from what the company could expect purchasing a simple CRM package that lacks ERP technology. Good CRM consulting firms will tell you that a CRM system should cater to both the back room and front line activities of a business.

New Technologies Make Staying in Touch Easier

Guest Post — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:50:10 +0000

Over the last 15 years communications technology has expanded rapidly and the availability of long distance phone services has spread across the globe. Despite the widespread nature of telecommunications many of the companies that own the networks know that they can charge enormous markups for people to use what costs them fractions of a cent.

Voice Over IP (VOIP) is a newer system that uses the internet protocol (IP) to connect telephone calls. Consumers that already pay for an internet connection should certainly look into a VOIP service to replace their traditional land line service. A call from one VOIP user to another only costs what the user is already paying for the internet connection.

The big values in using a VOIP service come for those who make lots of international calls, VOIP services can provide free international calls to many commonly contacted countries. Not every single country is free due to existing infrastructure limitations, but going through VOIP, a user can make very cheap calls to India. At Voipstunt http://www.voipstunt.com/en/index.html for example, calls to India are as low as .055 Euro/minute!

Starting up with Voipstunt does have a few limitations, such as a free trial period limited to 60 minutes. However, once a customer buys some credit on his or her Voipstunt account, they earn 120 days of free international calls to popular locations listed on the site. For the cost of a few Euro in Voipstunt credit that’s nearly 4 months of international long distance at no additional cost to the customer, and every time the customer tops off the Voipstunt account the 120 free days are reset.

Anyone who has relatives all over the globe or is visiting far from home should definitely look closely into the advantages of using Voipstunt. Staying in touch with loved ones is easy and affordable with Voipstunt.

Types of CRM software, Which is the Best?

Guest Post — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:37:03 +0000

E-commerce is innovative and changing. New technologies are applied in every business to keep up with the trending needs of every customer. CRM software is one of these technologies that companies need in order to retain their existing customers, attract new clients and prospects, and maintain good relationships with them. What are the different types of CRM software? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What is the best CRM software that fits the organization?

CRM software, in general, consists of two types. The conventional or locally hosted CRM software and Web based or remotely hosted CRM software package. The conventional or locally hosted package runs on a client or server network. The architecture and the complete software is set up in the server. It is installed on a server that is attached and networked with the workstations of the clients. It allows complete control over the CRM software, customizable as what the company wants and offers a fast-building database. But this requires technical support for set-up and upgrading and security updating. As the company grows, the package also grows and adding extra features can be expensive.

The other type is the Web based or remotely hosted CRM software that can be accessible online through secured protocols. Its software maintenance is free and usually offers the most advanced communication tools. It can be open source or customized. Although one common criticism of online software is that the data isn’t secure, you can rest assure that this package is secured. The provider of the software is also responsible for any problem regarding the package, thus the company can save a lot of money, time, and stress if something goes wrong. It is also updated periodically for any new features to add and they are absolutely free of charge. But data hosting and transfer of data outside the company firewall is required that will incurred additional cost for the company in the long run.

The current trend in software is to move towards an online program. The benefits of having someone else manage your system and being able to access your information from anywhere in the world are too great to pass up for many companies.

CRM software offers a lot of benefits in handling customer relationship, and it’s ultimately up to the organization on what package to choose among the two, but remember the software package has to meet the organization’s requirements and overall vision.

Information From Restaurant Accounting Software

Guest Post — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:56:07 +0000

In the past restaurant managers have thought that accountants were only useful for tax purposes. Every year managers would call in the accountant at the end of the year to clean up the books and prepare the taxes. However, more and more managers are recognizing that managerial accountants can provide day-to-day accounting information that can be used for strategic purposes. Accountants can use restaurant accounting software to generate reports that benefit the restaurant decision makers.

One very useful report for restaurant owners is a balance sheet. The balance sheet shows all of the assets, liabilities, and owners’ equity of the restaurant. Understanding the balance sheet and analyzing key restaurant ratios can help managers see where their restaurant currently sits, and where they want it to be sitting in the future.

For example, a restaurant owner might see that the company’s debt ratio is only about five percent (in other words the company has not taken out much debt). This might be a good thing in the eyes of the restaurant owner or it might be a bad thing. If a restaurant owner is trying to grow the restaurant as fast as possible, then a five percent debt ratio means that he/she needs to leverage the restaurant more. Accounting software for restaurants can generate balance sheets at the click of a button.

Another very useful report for restaurant owners is the statement of cash flows. Most small businesses fail because they didn’t manage their cash correctly and weren’t able to make payments to employees and vendors. This problem even happens to companies who are making a lot of sales. A good accounting package will show a company’s cash from operations, investing, and financing.

Perhaps the most useful report on a day-to-day basis for managers is the income statement or statement of profit and loss. This statement has all of the revenues or sales generated by the restaurant. It also has all of the expenses the restaurant has incurred, including cost of food, salaries, utilities, and rent. This report shows the gross margin for entrées sold and it also shows whether the restaurant as a whole is profitable. Traditionally these reports were only generated every few months. However, nowadays a restaurant accounting software package can generate a net income report for managers several times a day. This can make it easy for managers to see which dishes are hot and which dishes aren’t.

In short, the days of only using an accountant to fill out your tax forms are over. A good accountant can help you set up an accounting system that will provide you with the information to make your restaurant successful.