Spiritual Aspects of Trading

Maybe slightly off-topic, not sure.

Context: Me = ibank market maker, roughly 6 years' trading experience. Please note I am very aware of the differences between market making and trading your own assets for a living. I have enjoyed reading this thread (for the record my views seem to coincide roughly with those of TD80 and Cutten). For me it would be a shame for it to fizzle out so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and give the thread a bump whilst picking your brains about something.

I do not use a rigid trading system; it would be very hard for me to do so really given the nature of my role in markets, however I believe I appreciate the importance of the concepts involved. However, my time trading liquid markets have lead me to gravitate towards a systematic way of thinking:

Basically in every position I find myself in, without being reckless or irrational (e.g. I stick to risk limits, do not voluntarily pay away bid/offer spread), I endeavor to act in whatever way that causes me the most discomfort.

If I am running a position that starts to go against me and I catch myself thinking that it would be ridiculous to stop out here... I stop out. If I am in a winning trade that has just broken in my favor, and it feels unthinkable that it could go further, I add to the position. If I am in a profitable position that starts to go against me I don't take profits until I feel a twinge of regret that I have let it come back this far, but then I make sure I go to stop loss promptly.

The general idea behind my thinking is that, over the long run, the actions that are most counter-intuitive and yet bound by sensible constraints are going to turn out to be the most consistently profitable. I must make it clear at this point that I need to feel that I have a clear head in order for me to operate in this manner. If I have been out on the tiles the night before, or I am feeling a little hot-headed after an angry exchange or unfortunate market move against me, I stop trading, taking reasonable steps to reduce my risk.

So, am I going mad? Should I crack open my emergency Tarot cards?

Interestingly my best days coincide with bad days for the rest of my team... sometimes difficult to explain, you understand, because this kind of study of trading philosophy would be considered totally ridiculous by my boss and the majority of my desk.

Thanks in advance for the comments.
 
very interesting. unfortunately sooner or later you will "learn"
and your intuition will stop being a good counterindicator ...
 
Hmm yes I have of course considered that possibility. What can I say? If I catch myself second-guessing too much I try to get back to basics. You're probably right though!!!!
 
Unfortunately the stock bizz is like sports agents and car dealers and then it gets even worse. sarcasm at the every man's attempt to enter, prejudiced,etc.
But lets talk about the good ones- they are like former fat athletes thy like to party-- coke is back-- they don't know or appreciate women very well- certainly not in the workplace.
But lets talk about the very, very good- I have found a hedge fund of really nice guys but it's blind luck- the main guy lives down the street from my mother. They are neither cocky, no insulting, of course presently they are not beating the market either.
Mostly It is indeed a world as described by midlifeguy


I worked the past 8 years on the buyside before being scapegoated out and can tell you in the end as the place got huge and greedy, I felt the darkest of dark evil in the place, almost as if it had a Darth Vader feel to it. I used to say the place was soul sucking.

The world of high finance is not a place you go to find
" spiritual " people. I have had much better luck at my pseudo gym chinese medicine loft I work out at and through my acupuncturist.
 
Thought I might add a little interpretative context of Jesus and the moneychangers.

Keep in mind that this occurred at the time of the Passover (see John ch 2). At that time each male had to pay the 1/2 sheckel temple tax. The coin of the day was the roman coin with a picture of Caesar on it. The temple tax could not be paid with a pagan coin. The money changers were therefore currency traders. Trading roman coins for scarce temple acceptable hebrew coins. They likely were doing it at excessive rates. AKA a "rip off".

Also the animal trading that was going on likely had a similar bent. You were to sacrifice a spotless animal. If you had traveled a hundred miles your animal may have been pristine at your homestead, but by the time you reached Jerusalem it was a bit beat up. The animal trade was also likely done at excessive rates.

Think of it like going to a football game. (Although attendance is a choice, not a requirement.) Captive audience, $5 cokes and $8 hot dogs... not a fair deal for the common man, but a great unfair and exploitative operation for the temple types. One thing Jesus stood for was fairness and justice and not exploiting or abusing your position.
 
Quote from bigmoose:

Thought I might add a little interpretative context of Jesus and the moneychangers.

Keep in mind that this occurred at the time of the Passover (see John ch 2). At that time each male had to pay the 1/2 sheckel temple tax. The coin of the day was the roman coin with a picture of Caesar on it. The temple tax could not be paid with a pagan coin. The money changers were therefore currency traders. Trading roman coins for scarce temple acceptable hebrew coins. They likely were doing it at excessive rates. AKA a "rip off".

Also the animal trading that was going on likely had a similar bent. You were to sacrifice a spotless animal. If you had traveled a hundred miles your animal may have been pristine at your homestead, but by the time you reached Jerusalem it was a bit beat up. The animal trade was also likely done at excessive rates.

Think of it like going to a football game. (Although attendance is a choice, not a requirement.) Captive audience, $5 cokes and $8 hot dogs... not a fair deal for the common man, but a great unfair and exploitative operation for the temple types. One thing Jesus stood for was fairness and justice and not exploiting or abusing your position.
More...
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Good points big-mrMoose;
also they were doing something clearly illegal, stealing in Hebrew temple, which Jesus called my fathers house/house of prayer.

Some Christians wrongly use that , try to say a church shouldnt have Hebrew-Christian book sales. Interestingly most every book sold is actually done in a separate room or building on the church property.

And they may advertise it[book sales] in church;
but most are careful to change money/charge tax in a separate room from the pulpit [preaching platform]:cool:
 
Quote from bigmoose:

One thing Jesus stood for was fairness and justice and not exploiting or abusing your position.
More...

All excellent points and if I may add.

As usual man always over thinks GOD and makes 10 simple commandments far too complicated.

Jesus, understood and is GOD's heart, mercy and kindness.

He was making an example of man's stupidity and confusion between GOD's will and intent vs. ritual.

After 2000 years nothing has really changed has it. ?

Man continues to be stiff necked and entangled in ritual and we wonder WHY the world is still a mess. :confused:
 
Quote from stonedinvestor:

Unfortunately the stock bizz is like sports agents and car dealers and then it gets even worse. sarcasm at the every man's attempt to enter, prejudiced,etc.

I worked the past 8 years on the buyside before being scapegoated out and can tell you in the end as the place got huge and greedy, I felt the darkest of dark evil in the place, almost as if it had a Darth Vader feel to it. I used to say the place was soul sucking.
More...
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Interesting you felt the darkest evil in the place;
maybe as some Elitetraders said [ scapegoated out ]'' a blessing in disguise.''

And to ask a funny question,Stoney did you mean comparison to a new car dealer or a ''We tote the note used
car ''outfit???????????? LOL

You maybe right on the prejudice, however;
Samson's parents wanted him to marry a Hebrew girl, because they knew Delyla didnt believe the old Testament. So it really wasnt prejudice that is racial;
it was redemptive. And she was a Benedict Arnold traitor type to Israel.

Some new car dealers do honor thier warranty;
do help.
:cool:
 
<i>"After 2000 years nothing has really changed has it. ?

Man continues to be stiff necked and entangled in ritual..."</i>

Directly akin to the way too many traders attempt to solve the market puzzle with rigid, black & white, scientific rules for success.

Man only understands a fraction of financial market's total picture, and likewise a much smaller fraction of how this world = universe true picture.

<b>vhehn</b> is partially right as usual: we should not refute evidence and facts. That said, we now know as much about the universal scheme today as physicians knew about neurological function, endocrinology and DNA function 2,000 years ago.

What we collectively know about our world would fill a proverbial thimble. What we don't know would overflow the oceans.
 
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