Economic data is routinely released within government circles before publication. The employment figures are seen by 118 people before their official release JUSTIN TALLIS/Getty ImagesFinancial experts have warned that unscrupulous traders could be making millions of pounds in profits from leaked information before the publication of economic information such as unemployment and inflation figures. Research published yesterday by The Wall Street Journal found that prices of gilt futures appeared to accurately predict economic releases to a degree that raised suspicion that some market players might have foreknowledge of the numbers. An analysis of the bond futures market by Alexander Kurov, associate professor of finance at West Virginia University, found that prices moved by an average of 0.029 per cent, a shift that would increase in value the £234 billion of debt he analysed by nearly £70 million. Professor Kurov’s analysis found that the price moves in the 24 hours…

Source: The Times March 14, 2017 00:06 UTC