BOTS are computers that trade shares instead of humans like you...

BOTS are computers that trade shares instead of humans like you and I. Brokerage houses and professional investors use computers to make their trades based on various mathematical modelling. It's called Algorithmic Trading, were complex instructions for buying and selling are programmed into a machine. They can think faster than you and I and can supposedly identify patterns etc etc.

I had to ask as well some months back. Everyone on Stock forums seems to call computers that use algorithmic trading "BOTS". Short for "Robots" I guess.

They can also buy and sell ridiculously small parcels of shares because the firms companies usually running these BOTS are ASX participants and holders of Financial Services Licenses so they don't pay brokerage fees.