An article in today’s New York Times focuses on high-frequency traders and the efforts that they are making to avoid regulations that may limit their growing power in the markets.

According to the article, “Critics say traders with access to the fastest machines win at the expense of ordinary investors by seizing on the best deals and turning fast profits before other traders.”

Many attribute last May’s “Flash Crash” to high-frequency trading, although according the article, “Regulators did not blame high-frequency traders for causing the sell-off.”

High-frequency trading firms defend that the technology they utilize to build their business is part of “stock-exchange modernization” and helping to create “a level playing field.”

How do you feel about high-frequency trading? Has its rise affected your own trading? How have you had to change the way you trade to remain competitive?

As one of the comments on the article suggested, would it be foolish to think an average trader can beat an automatic trading professional?