Quantum trading and the search for the perfect clock

Government push to overhaul satellite technology could improve time-stamping accuracy for trading firms – and for regulators

For high-frequency traders, the expression ‘time is money’ holds a literal truth.

Firms that use algorithmic trading strategies must time-stamp transactions to the nearest fraction of a millisecond. This requires internal systems capable of staying in near-perfect sync.

A UK government initiative is aiming to develop technology that delivers a more reliable and accurate indicator of time than existing satellites. The scheme could be an important step in enabling high-frequency trading (HFT)