One of the most eagerly-anticipated studies into high-frequency trading has concluded that computer-based trading has "several beneficial effects” and has advised regulators to exercise caution “to avoid undoing the advantages that high-frequency trading has brought”.

The UK Government's Foresight Study, conducted by the Government Office for Science and sponsored by HM Treasury, today published its final report into HFT after two years in the making. The report has been one of the most wide-ranging research projects into HFT to date, having garnered the views of over 150 leading academics, commissioned over 50 scientific papers and sought the advice of over 350 stakeholders from across the world.