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"JOHA, as someone who is on the floor everyday it is hard not to notice that EVERY single big bank still has desks on the floor and still use the pits to execute some big futures orders (i couldn't help but notice GOLDMAN buying 5000 ten years this morning when they easily could have done it on the screen). i have also noticed that the liquidity on eCBOT is most likely provided by a lot of the traders standing in the pit arbing the two markets. why don't you just go back to europe and support the exchanges there. i guess no one has confidence in the CBOT since their full memberships are trading at ALL-TIME highs and have risen from 300,000 to 950,000 since eurex has tried to take over the treasuries from the CBOT."
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Hmmm. Testy, testy, testy. A few comments:
1. Floor trader. I should have known. Tell me, do you like watching Betamax movies on your B&W TV or do you prefer the soothing sounds of your 8-track player?
2. You say the liquidity on the screen is probably the result of floor traders arbing the two markets. If(when) the floors go away, do you envision the liquidity on the eCBOT going away?
3. Nice comment trying to send me to Europe. Did I offend you? Actually, the CBOT licenses the Liffe-Connect platform. Liffe-Connect was developed by Liffe after their floor shut down. That happened right after Eurex offered Bund futures on their electronic platform. Prior to that, the Bund traded on the Liffe floor. Most of Europe realized quickly that screens are far superior to pits. Those Europeans are always ahead of us....electronic trading, cuisine, fashion. Anyway, the irony of your statement is that the eCBOT pays a fee to Liffe-Connect to use their technology, so you my friend are actually supporting the European exchanges that you appear to despise so much.
4. Look, my point was that we should all want the competition. Its a good world if both exchanges share the treasury volume. Its a great world if they both share a fungible treasury future (never gonna happen). Competition is good. I like my Big Mac's but every now and then I like a good ole Whopper. Don't be so narrow minded.
Does anyone else have a thought on this? Support Eurex US AND support eCBOT. You want them BOTH to be successful.