This has been going on in my mind for quite some time now. Finally, I thought of giving words to my thought and put them on a public portal, hoping this might relax me a bit. As most of you know, I have recently joined my job as a derivatives trader. But there are occasions when I need to tell someone what I do, and it is generally not taken as something very good. I usually get comments like “After 5 years of studying Computer Science, you have ended up doing trading. What’s the use of your degree?” or some expressions which would be clear to be non-appreciative to anyone in the world, as if I am doing the most unethical thing on Earth.
I am not saying that this makes much of a difference to me. I am living with people who are in the same job, and therefore have a similar take on the nature of job, so the question of my getting affected by such comments doesn’t come into the picture. I just want that people who want to take up trading as a profession should not be demotivated by the general public around.
Ok, first let us discuss about my joining this job. Those who know me closely know that I was never interested in programming, or so to say, in Computer Science. Why would I go for a job in which all I have to do is programming, and be pissed off everyday, cursing myself and the company; Doesn’t make any sense, does it?
During our orientation programme, the owner of the company told that this profession is highly respected in the west, but not much in India. Now, why is trading not respected here in India? Some people are too much worried of losing money that they say a stock market is the worst thing. Yeah, I know it is not a suitable option for those who are emotionally weak, those who easily get affected by profits or losses (I remember Shakespeare here .. superfluity lies in the mean :D ). Some think that it is too unethical to trade. I don’t understand this. The people who are out to trade have at least as much risk capacity as they are investing, and if not, they are fools and would be out of this business any day! So, why are other traders responsible for their being sad? And in most businesses, it so happens that one side benefits at the expense of the other side. Every big name can be associated with some kind of unethical act. It is just that what they do is make money indirectly, and by trading it is direct. Both require brains, and let me tell you, trading requires really high levels of concentration :)
We were told that a good trader has some 22 different personality traits. I don’t know if I have managed to improve in even 5 of them till date, but I know I am enjoying my life as a trader, and, irrespective of the reaction I get from people, would like to see how I fare in this business at least till I enrich myself to 15 of those qualities (cant be specific in terms of time here :) ), provided the company doesn’t kick my butt!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
When the attacker goes defensive!
Before you go through this post, I would like you to know that I am not against anyone just for the sake of doing so like many others (such readers are requested to refrain from scrolling down as you would go against me towards the end :P ). If I’m against something or someone, it is because I truly believe so.
The attacker that I am talking about is none other than the present Indian Cricket team captain. Though I have never been a big fan of Dhoni, I developed a certain amount of respect for him looking at the way he led the side in the last few tournaments, and made some excellent decisions. He doesn’t have a technique many people would love to watch, but yeah, he is more productive than most of the men in blue.
What I could not understand was his decision to not declare early in the ongoing Test against New Zealand at Wellington. What was he waiting for? Was it some individual big score that he wanted some of his teammate to achieve? Was he enjoying batting himself too much that he could risk winning an easy match? I heard it on TV during the lunch break on the third day that it was forecasted that the last day would be cloudy, and there would be chances of rain on the fourth day too. Now, what answer would he have if it rains on the last day! Moreover, the target that should be set in such circumstances should be such that the other side should consider it to be chaseable, and try to achieve it, and in the process lose wickets. Would the New Zealanders consider a chance of winning chasing 617? If Dhoni let his team continue to bat thinking that India will win the series even if the match ends up in a draw, I am totally against such strategies. He is well-known for his attacking cricket, and should abide by his technique in such cases too. A target of 450 would have been very safe and sensible.
I have always loved to see India win matches. In fact, there have been days when I used to feel bad for hours after India lost a cricket match. But this is one such occasion where I would like the match to go away from India’s hands; in such cases, I would rate a draw as equivalent to a defeat! The captain should learn to make better decisions. I sincerely hope that it rains the whole day in Wellington tomorrow. A side which is doing so well should not lag behind in any department, not at least in decision making.
The attacker that I am talking about is none other than the present Indian Cricket team captain. Though I have never been a big fan of Dhoni, I developed a certain amount of respect for him looking at the way he led the side in the last few tournaments, and made some excellent decisions. He doesn’t have a technique many people would love to watch, but yeah, he is more productive than most of the men in blue.
What I could not understand was his decision to not declare early in the ongoing Test against New Zealand at Wellington. What was he waiting for? Was it some individual big score that he wanted some of his teammate to achieve? Was he enjoying batting himself too much that he could risk winning an easy match? I heard it on TV during the lunch break on the third day that it was forecasted that the last day would be cloudy, and there would be chances of rain on the fourth day too. Now, what answer would he have if it rains on the last day! Moreover, the target that should be set in such circumstances should be such that the other side should consider it to be chaseable, and try to achieve it, and in the process lose wickets. Would the New Zealanders consider a chance of winning chasing 617? If Dhoni let his team continue to bat thinking that India will win the series even if the match ends up in a draw, I am totally against such strategies. He is well-known for his attacking cricket, and should abide by his technique in such cases too. A target of 450 would have been very safe and sensible.
I have always loved to see India win matches. In fact, there have been days when I used to feel bad for hours after India lost a cricket match. But this is one such occasion where I would like the match to go away from India’s hands; in such cases, I would rate a draw as equivalent to a defeat! The captain should learn to make better decisions. I sincerely hope that it rains the whole day in Wellington tomorrow. A side which is doing so well should not lag behind in any department, not at least in decision making.
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