Recent content by Drambuie

If you want to trade prop at a bank you should choose the path which will make this outcome more likely. If you perform well at this Japanese bank, then you'll be able to "move up" in due time. Although I think that the money the Japanese bank pays is as green the cash Goldman will shell out...

I'd take the number of ebay iphone listings and divide it by the number of phones sold this weekend. You'll find that it is a very small number.

It doesn't sound like their focus would be applicable to your interests, but that is beyond your control. Having the internship lends credibility to your stated passion for finance. Recruiters and companies want capable and interested entry level employees. If I were you, I'd get familiar with...

My friend interviewed there last year. He told me that it was almost exclusively math based. For example, they asked how much is 8^9? Good luck.

Two problems with being hypercompetitive are that it is unattractive and the resulting instability. It's important to give a full effort and take pride in your endeavor, but not to the point where you become a raving lunatic who could be confused with someone with roid rage. There is a point...

As Bernoulli pointed out, Harris' definition of comparative advantage is different from Ricardo's classic conception. Ricardo would tell you that your comparative advantage is to trade the ES instead of spending 60% of your time trading the ES and 40% trading the 5 yr and 10 yr spread. Even...

After looking at NYMEX and LME supply charts and copper's price chart it looked like copper was in a free fall but has since rallied. I'm a complete beginner when it comes to charts, but it looked like copper had support at 2.20. Do any of you think that 2.50 is psychological support?

I'd go with SAC because it would be easier to get noticed there--in house or from outside. I wouldn't be surprised if this were true. Undergrads land trading assistant jobs at top firms every day with the right pedigree. GL

It's basically pornographic. I get the magazine for free in the mail. Two years ago when I was in school I pretended to be a trader and they have given me a free subscription. I believe the paper version is free to traders. You'd be crazy to shell out $10 for it.

Probably 100,000 traders. Zuckerberg did more in 2.5 years than optioncoach could achieve in a lifetime.

You never know. Your SAT score is abysmal and banks frequently use that to cull their applicant pool. Everything else is very solid--demonstrated interest in trading, a quant bent, high GPA. I'd recommend trying to find some alums from UC to network with and get some ideas from them. Those...

Mike, it sounds like you're locked in mortal combat. I admire your persistence. How has your lack of success (objectively: you are not financially independent) affected your personal life?When you say that pairs trading has made all the difference, do you mean the difference between failing and...

I went to Harvard and graduated with a sub 3.0 (probably < 10% of class) in Gov. It was difficult getting interviews for junior year summer internships because my GPA was low, but I got a good idea of what they were looking for after going through the process and meeting some traders in NYC...

I just graduated and I'm beginning to apply to various prop firms. I was hoping some ETers could comment on MBF (nymex), SMW, and Fusionary. Specifically, the mentoring, capital requirements, draw, atmosphere, etc... BTW: I'm more interested in futures. Is there a geographic advantage to...