[retube]

HFT is, as the name suggests, all about speed - sub-millisecond latency in some markets. It requires a lot of physical and expensive resources, not to mention an extremely deep knowledge of the mechanics of whatever contracts you wish to trade and the exchanges they are traded on. Basically there's a reason this field is played only by the big banks and hedge funds. (I bank I know spent at least $10m setting up an HFT desk)

Algo trading is probably a much better option: basically trading off the back of quant/stat analysis you have done with respect to prices (or relative prices). You'll learn lots about whatever contracts/instruments/markets you're interested in, plus get to flex your geeky skills. And you can do it from a laptop at home over a regular intenet connection with some cheap, if not free, trading platform or api.

[wladimir]

Is it actually still possible (with that I mean realistic) to make a profit that way? You'd say the banks have seized all algorithmic trading oppertunities, if you try something like that at home you'll always be second violin.