Stock markets aren't rigged, they're fundamentally flawed. HFT is only a small modern flaw that's emerged.
In theory a company can float itself in order to raise capital and improve performance. The business will invest the capital, and in turn return some of the improved profits to the share holders.
In a modern context it simply can't work this way. In a world with fiat currencies, any organisation with securities can directly invest in an stocks/bonds higher with a return higher than the Bank Rate to an extent far greater than individuals, with less risk.
This leaves individuals with little to no capacity to get a decent return without brokerage. While possible to make money, it's a roll of the die that would be better of done in a casino.
In theory a company can float itself in order to raise capital and improve performance. The business will invest the capital, and in turn return some of the improved profits to the share holders.
In a modern context it simply can't work this way. In a world with fiat currencies, any organisation with securities can directly invest in an stocks/bonds higher with a return higher than the Bank Rate to an extent far greater than individuals, with less risk.
This leaves individuals with little to no capacity to get a decent return without brokerage. While possible to make money, it's a roll of the die that would be better of done in a casino.