From ET member NTB:
Random thoughts on common edges in no particular order:
1. Local Pit Trader A gets Filling Broker B laid on a regular basis at XYZ Massage Parlor. Filling Broker B gets an order from Hedge Fund to sell 50 SPM6 at the market. Filling Broker B is sloppy with the order and sells it down a handle to Local Pit Trader A who buys it leaning against a 500 lot bid below.- that's an edge
2. $/Eur Trader at Major US bank has $ 1 Billion overnight order from big Asian customer to sell $/Eur @ 1.2800. Market is currently 1.2785/90. He takes out a short position in $/Eur at 1.2790 leaning against the clean-up of his 1.2800 order.- that's an edge.
3. Stock Trader John was roomates with Syndicate Manager Steve of Bulge Bracket investment bank. Stock Trader John is getting six-figure allocations of IPOs and selling them out the first print- that's an edge.
4. Sam has an automated stock trading system that is based upon speed of execution. He has the fastest computers in the world, has written the most efficient code in the world, and he happens to connect to the exchange via intranet because he is physically located in the same building (i'm not an expert on this stuff, just making the speed as an edge example)- that's an edge.
5. Bob has found a firm based in bumfuck Europe that allows him to switch investments within his whole life insurance policy daily. He switches from US large cap. equity to European large cap. equity to money market, etc. with no penalty and no limits. The insurance company is so antiquated that he realizes that they don't account for the changes in the currency movements. He figures out a way to arbitrage the movement in the currency by switching in and out of certain investments based upon stale currency fluctuations- that's an edge.
6- Bill G. has more capital than anyone in the world and therefore has the most staying power- that's an edge.
7- Stevie has better contacts for information flow than anyone in the world and can utilize that information to directly turn profits- that's an edge
8- Stacey has built a better mousetrap (not just claims she did)- that's an edge
9- John is the smartest guy in the world- that's an edge
10- Mike claims to understand the fundamentals of stocks, studies technicals and practices good risk management- not an edge- show me the money- prove yourself over 20 years.
Many more too many to list, you get the idea...