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Why Did Regulator Have Computer Trading Code On Personal PC?

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Mark Melin
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Tucked into a 2016 Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General (OIG) report is little noticed reprimand regarding the security of computer trading code that is currently sending chills up the spine of professional algorithmic firms.

The report revealed that an SEC quantitative analyst, empowered to inspect the algorithms behind many of the top fund managers, was charged with improperly requesting and downloading confidential computer code to his personal computer (along with defrauding the SEC regarding hours worked, an issue first reported in The Wall Street Journal). While the OIG did not affirm the allegation, according to OIG spokesperson Raphael Kozolchyk, the issue was nonetheless raised in the OIG’s semi-annual report to Congress.

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Mark Melin is an alternative investment practitioner whose specialty is recognizing the impact of beta market environment on a technical trading strategy. A portfolio and industry consultant, wrote or edited three books including High Performance Managed Futures (Wiley 2010) and The Chicago Board of Trade’s Handbook of Futures and Options (McGraw-Hill 2008) and taught a course at Northwestern University's executive education program.