Goldman Sachs' Exit From Market Making Sending A Signal

After purchasing a traditional market making firm as part of a larger acquisition for $5.4 billion in 2000, a major investment bank is now attempting to sell it for a significant loss at nearly $30 million.

Goldman Sachs Group inc (NYSE:GS) is negotiating with Dutch-based IMC Financial Markets to shed its NYSE floor-based brokerage unit, according to a Bloomberg report. While the unit is floor based, all market making integrates with the electronic markets -- an increasingly controversial topic.

When Goldman Sachs Group inc (NYSE:GS) COO Gary Cohen wrote what was considered a...