Do not naively believe that by constantly brushing the screen, you will be able to see US economic data for the first time. For example, at 20:30, the non-agricultural employment data was announced, but just before 30 minutes, at least 20 or more media outlets have obtained data. Even at 20:29, when someone leaks data out, hedge funds that specialize in high-frequency trading can build positions and take huge profits ahead of schedule.

Complete set of computer replacement According to foreign reports, taking into account the potential harm caused by data leakage, the U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for releasing monthly employment data, is preparing to implement a drastic reform of its firewall.

The first thing that needs to be done is to encrypt market-sensitive economic data before the official results are released, so as to prevent some of the data from being leaked. After undergoing a one-year review including anti-hacking experts from Sandia National Laboratories, officials from the Ministry of Labor withdrew some of the lesser-known news organizations from participating in data reporting. In addition, the government also ordered other media to replace its old computers and accept tighter control of the room.

It is understood that currently closely monitored data includes GDP, home sales, gasoline prices, unemployment rates, and so on. The behind-the-scenes move of the Labor Department is the high-frequency trading that has grown significantly over the past 10 years.

The deal is a core part of some hedge fund investment strategies that allow the use of light-speed cables to make early bets a few minutes or even seconds before the market gets information. Once you're in the right direction, you can go crazy for millions of dollars in milliseconds. On the other hand, due to concerns about breach of confidentiality procedures, the Ministry of Labor began accepting inquiries from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2007.

This time, in order to prevent the leak from happening again, the Ministry of Labor invited Sandia Laboratories, an arm of the giant Lockheed Martin, to cooperate with the confidentiality work. According to Sandia's suggestion, there may be traders or secret agents hidden in the secret room. The Department of Labor shall replace the computer equipment in the room before September. Statistics show that Sandia Lab has more than 50 years of computer security experience, especially in military command and network control.

“Room participants can now connect directly to the automated trading model through a special computer or software,” said Keith Hall, a member of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “This opens the door to the outside world.” According to this, the overhaul of the closet was performed. According to CarlFillichio, an official at the Department of Labor, confidentiality issues existed in secret rooms in the past few years, including the installation of cables without permission or the use of mobile phone cameras.

What is the secret room secret room? We may wish to take time back to 8 years ago. In Washington D.C., a certain dawn in 2004, 24 selected financial reporters collectively stepped into a white stone building on Third Avenue. Then they crossed a quiet, narrow corridor and eventually stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. A government official waited on them and opened the door quickly. The room here was L-shaped and had no windows. In addition to two dozen pure orange chairs and a row of tables, the room was empty. A digital clock hung on the wall showing that it is now 7:30:15. In the next 15 minutes, the 24 people must sign a special form.

At 0755, government officials began calling the U.S. Navy Observatory with a wall-mounted telephone, and then began to announce after quietly hanging out, “Please turn off your mobile phone and PDA, and cut off the laptop network.” At this time, another Officials came in and began to place a highly sensitive government report on each person's desk.

At 8:00, the closet door was closed. Since then, 24 reporters have been isolated from the world. No one can allow leave, or send text messages. A guard stands in the doorway to prevent anyone from inciting. A few seconds later, the journalists began to look at the documents on the desk, a non-agricultural employment data for the month. In the next 30 minutes, the reporter must write this document into a report. To everyone's surprise, the unusually strong employment situation in the month suggests that there may be a surge in the stock market.

At 8:29, the Ministry of Labor official warned, "There is one minute to open the telephone line, but it cannot be sent out." At the same time, fund managers in New York, Tokyo, London and other places are anxiously staying in front of computers, hoping to The right time to make the right investment decision.

29 minutes and 50 seconds, the countenance began to haunt the chamber. At 30 minutes, the reporter quickly pressed the send button on the keyboard. 1-2 seconds later, from Bloomberg, Reuters to CNBC's website, they all wrote in a flashing red news report, "The unemployment rate has fallen more than expected, and new jobs have increased dramatically."