New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has put high-speed traders on notice after launching an investigation into whether faster access to data and ability to trade gives investors improper advantages.

The move is likely to be of interest to high-speed traders in Australia where it is estimated about 30 per cent of all trades are executed using super-fast computers and algorithims.

US attorney general Eric Schneiderman's investigation will be closely watched by Australian authorities. Credit:Bloomberg

The investigation will also be closely watched by financial market regulator the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and national stock exchange operators the Australian Securities Exchange and Chi-X.

Australian regulators and exchange operators do not have a problem with high-speed trading, but ASIC has long warned investors of the risks of using very fast computer programs to enter orders and execute trades on a market.