Blog Posts

Prime brokers have an important function in the financial ecosystem, particularly for institutional traders, investors, and hedge funds.  Despite their name, their primary function is heavily geared toward lending rather than traditional brokerage services.  They serve as a critical link between large traders/investors and the broader financial markets, offering a suite of services that extend […]

The complexity of trading stems from various factors, ranging from the nature of financial systems to human psychology and technological advancements.  This complexity isn’t merely due to the vast amount of information traders must process but also comes from the various feedback loops and dependencies inherent in financial systems.  We’ll look in more depth at […]

Trading, finance, and engineering, while distinct in their core functions, share several similarities, particularly in the mindsets and skill sets required for success.  Both disciplines demand a high level of analytical thinking, technical skills, and a strong attention to detail.  There’s even a field/profession/process known as financial engineering. Portfolio design is often referred to as […]

The role of the President of the United States, as outlined in the US Constitution and shaped by historical practice, involves a wide range of duties and powers – with varying degrees of direct control over the economy. We’ll cover this in some amount of depth in this article, as well as some of the […]

Learning to trade can be a challenging yet rewarding pursuit. Whether you’re interested in stocks, currencies, commodities, bonds, cryptocurrencies, or something else, developing the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in trading like anything else – dedication, patience, and a strategic approach.  This article will look at the best ways to learn trading, emphasizing the […]

Secrecy is common in trading and investing as firms and individuals compete for an edge.  This article explores why secrecy is so prevalent in trading, the methods used to maintain it, and its impact on institutional and retail investors.   Key Takeaways – Secrecy in Trading Intellectual property protection is important in the industry Trading […]

Contrarian trading and investment strategies involve going against prevailing market trends or sentiments. This approach is based on the belief that markets often overreact to news and create mispriced securities. Contrarian investors seek to capitalize on these inefficiencies.   Key Takeaways – Contrarian Trading & Investment Strategies Contrarian trading and investment strategies involve going against […]

Various types of traders use different strategies to profit from markets.  Day traders and high-frequency traders (HFTs) are two kinds of traders, each with their own pool of capital, strategies, and buying/selling motivations.  Both focus on short-term price fluctuations, but their methods, analysis and frameworks, and impact on the market differ a lot.  In this […]

Traders and investors increasingly recognize that concentrated portfolios are very risky and unnecessary for meeting their long-run return objectives. This is leading more asset allocators to the balanced beta approach, which we’ll explore in this article.   Key Takeaways – Balanced Beta Risk Balancing Balanced beta focuses on equalizing risk across different economic environments (rising/falling […]

Intermarket Sweep Orders (ISOs) are a specialized type of order used in electronic trading. They are mostly used in the context of high-frequency trading and regulatory compliance.   Key Takeaways – Intermarket Sweep Orders (ISOs) Purpose and Execution ISOs are specialized limit orders designed for immediate execution across multiple exchanges. They allow traders to bypass […]