Why I Flashed the Shaka Sign at the NYSE Opening Bell

On the morning of Sept. 10, I enjoyed the great privilege of standing at the podium of NYSE Euronext as a participant in the opening bell ceremonies, marking the launch of the KraneShares CSI China Five-Year Plan ETF. It had been 21 years since I was a summer intern on the floor, and the scene below me was nearly unrecognizable. Today, the trading floor is littered with flat screens and handheld devices rather than buy/sell pads and torn trade tickets. The number of floor traders has been reduce...