Breaking news in the financial newspaper Financieele Dagblad on our desks after returning from a long weekend eating Easter bunnies and searching for eggs. The market is fairly quiet, the volatility is fairly low and the trading profits for most firms are limited. Nothing new so far, but the market makers have invested substantially in expensive IT support and fast connections – and with lacking trading results the total profits are under pressure.

IMC’s chief Rob Defares (see photo) comments will terrify his own personnel – as he confirmed things are bad, but compared to previous hard times still bearable. Quoted right after a few lines on forced layoffs. A coincidence, probably.

The question remains which kind of firms are bound to take a hit when the current slow market endures. The heavy weight kings of the overhead with deep pockets, or the small lean and mean (and slow) dwarfs. Perhaps both will suffer when this market lasts.

Jack