Saturday, December 7, 2013

What happen to this Trader?

On the 6th January last year, I briefly shared about this Trader who reviewed to me that he made 3000% return in 2011.  I was impressed by his performance, from S$20k to S$600k, an amazing feat that is only common for floor traders in the past.  Of course I still do hear of the occasional trader that make those type of money now, but it's rare.

I came to know this trader through an AFACT event, exchanges phone number and he would call me regularly to seek my opinion of the market.  I told him that I am a very short term trader, my view of the market is short sighted and I am not good in forecasting, don't let what I said affect him.  He would then let me know about reports, figures that might affect the market and then his one sided view of where the market is going.

He made his money shorting the market, and probably because of that, his opinion is skewed towards having short positions.  As I probe into how he managed to make his money, I realized that he averages on good and bad positions and ride them. Luck was with him that he survived one that nearly stopped him out and later made a killing.  He focused and only traded one contract, Simsci and revealed that his biggest position was holding more than a 100 contracts.  I have never done that in my entire life.

I warned him about the perils of overtrading, money and risk management as I have been through it before, losing big time.  He assured me that he traded smaller position and attended various courses on trading, trying to find the holy grail.  Whenever he was caught with a position, he would call me for my opinion and tried to convince me with reports and figures that the market should go the way of his position.  Of course, they were mostly short positions.   As time went by, I find it rather annoying as it affect my short time view as well.

After knowing the benefits of being an Sgx member, he joined as a member to get preferential rate and enjoyed much lower commission.  His trading time frame started to get shorter as he got closer to the market and began executing his own orders, spending long hours till the market closes at 2.00 am.  I warned him that short term trading is getting very tough with the Algos dominating it with their speed and very much cheaper commission to flip the market, confusing all the click traders.

I warned him about taking care of his health too as he should be around my age, the way he traded is definitely stressful to me.  While I am getting out of short term trading, this guy jumped into a pool infested by crocodiles!

Despite all the warnings from me, he continued trading and would called me about making some money here and there.  I was never envious of his exploits and would congratulate him for his good work always with a warning to be careful as I can hardly make a living scalping.

I don't know this trader well, met him a few times during some AFACT events whereby he would chat me up.  He kept to a very low profile.

I was relieved when he stopped calling me and I noticed that he didn't attend any more events. I thought maybe he might have been caught short when the Simsci started shooting up, probably he might be shy to admit his mistakes.  I left him alone.  I messaged him and wished him a Happy New Year but there was no reply, I called him recently and his phone was out of service. 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Insider Trading by FX Dealers

"Currency dealers in London gave information about client orders to day traders who then made bets on their behalf, sidestepping restrictions on personal trading, three people with knowledge of the practice said"

"Bank employees used their mobile phones and instant-messages to transmit details of impending orders to individuals working from rented trading desks in offices on the outskirts of the U.K. capital, according to three traders who said they had witnessed the practice over a period of years. The day traders then made bets on the direction of currencies and any profit was later divvied up in cash, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because the agreements are private."

Reported on Bloomberg on Nov 22, 2013 at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/fx-dealers-said-to-use-day-traders-to-make-personal-bets.html#disqus_thread

It's not surprising to me that such hanky panky sort of trading happens all over the world to those who have privilege information, these FX dealers are just small flies.  The big boys are those well connected to certain corrupted government officials, families, friends and cronies of many listed companies.

It's so common to see stock price actions well ahead of impending news release.  Who are these first movers? They are definitely the insiders who have news leak to them in advance.  It will take tremendous amount of time and hard work for the regulators to catch them, so the small fishes are able to swim away scot free.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Trading and Backache

Backache is now a common health problem for a number of traders as we spend more time sitting down starring at our computer screens.  An operation can cost from S$40k to S$70k in Singapore depend on skill of specialist and how sharp their knife is.  It's painful both ways.

I too started having backache a few years back and visited the Chinese Sinseh (doctor) often until I came across this video by a old Chinese master who magnanimously shared it over Youtube.  It's free, just some simple back strengthening exercises that straighten up the spine. I tried doing it everyday and it really helps. Save money from going to a Chiropractor or a Chinese Sinseh.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=303790639752697

Keep fit and stay healthy!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Risk Free Business

I have been quite free, in semi retirement, playing the game Candy Crush most of the time and suddenly become very busy because of this Business that was introduced to me, what a challenge!
 
There are some reasons why I want to go into this business. I was told about this business last year and I never gave it a thought because it's just another MLM company and the products were expensive. My sister in law enrolled me in October 2012 even though I told her I am not interested in the products and the business.  I didn't buy a single product, probably because she was new to this business and didn't know the products well and also didn't know how to present the business properly to me.  She has never done any business before but she kept buying products under my name and enrolled 2 people under me.
 
On a recent trip to China, I met up with a friend working as a manager in the beauty industry and she asked me whether there are any good beauty products from Singapore that they can import into China and sell in their shop.  That's when I started to look around for beauty products and revisited the website of Jeunesse Global and asked for more information from my sister-in-law. I went to visit the Singapore office at International Plaza and listened to a talk on this business on the 24th July 2013.
 
There I was introduced to a gentleman called Eric who is an accountant and owned an Auditing firm. He explained the compensation plan to me and the reasons why he joined the company after studying the company in detail, spending weeks in the office scrutinising the operation as well as visiting other MLM offices, studying the products and comparing compensation plan before he started introducing his business associates to Jeunesse Global.
 
Jeunesse Global have a Binary compensation plan and Eric was placed under me by someone above me and his organisation grew very fast in the last few months, his growth benefited me because I have accumulated more than 19,000 points on my left leg from his group effort. I can't realise this points which is equivalent to about US$1,100 if I don't start building this business on my right leg. And the points keep accumulating every day as the group keep growing, it would be such a waste if I don't do anything. Eric is such humble person, quiet and so willing to spend time sharing with me even though it's the first time we met.
 
I went back very happy, spend some time studying into details about the products of this company and learned that they are in latest technology of stem cells and anti-aging products for redefining youth.  All of us grow old, we want to look younger and we also want to be healthier.  I went through a lot of testimonies from posting in Youtube and Youku.
 
Last Saturday I attended a talk in Jeunesse office by a young doctor Wanty from Indonesia to share his experience and the products. A few years back his father was diagnosed with Cancer and he spent much time caring for his father as well as bringing him to Singapore and China for treatment in a wheelchair.  His sister's friend from Australia introduced one of Jeunesse product and this product "Reserve" helped his father recover from Cancer and he is now healthy. 
 
I met up with Dr Wanty yesterday afternoon at the Jeunesse office and had a nice long chat with him.  This young doctor is another such a humble guy who is just a Pearl Director now and is willing to fly in from Jarkata, Indonesia to share with us even though he is not paid to do so and don't have any people enrolled here under him. 
 
Initially he was not interested in this MLM business, being a doctor, he had no time and declined many offers from friends in various MLM companies.  The sister in Australia joined Jeunesse Global two and a half years ago as a member to buy Reserve at wholesale price so that his father can consume the product. Her upline enrolled a Malaysian and was placed under her, and this organisation grew tremendously in the last two years, she did nothing.
 
Dr Wanty opened his Ipad and show me his sister's accumulated points on one leg, wow, close to 400,000 points! and it's still growing every minute from somewhere around the world. There are currently 2,900 members from all over the world that just flow down and keep expending. This is just part of the income she can have if she is willingly to build the business on the other leg. So now he is trying to build the business for her as well as sharing his knowledge with anyone who is interested.
 
Below are some of the reasons why I am interested to build this business.
 
1.  It is a global E-commerce business with a robust computer/accounting system for doing business anywhere in the world that Jeunesse can deliver the products.  Enrol friends or anyone you know from the Internet as members to enjoy wholesale prices.
 
2. Unique products that are consumable, when the products are good, you are in the right business.
 
3. Good management and leadership, a company that is bestowed the Rising Star Award by the Direct Selling Association recently on July 3rd 2013 with sales of more than US$200 million in just 4 short years. Jeunesse is entering into the Chinese market through Hong Kong with sales of more than US$6 million in the month of June.
 
4..Low capital outlay, the risk is low, no liability compared to conventional business, anyone can start doing this business anytime.
 
5. No experienced is required, coaching is provided by the company as well as the uplines who bring you into the business.  After about a year into the business, my sister-in-law is now a Sapphire Executive, she is a housewife with 2 kids to look after, she put in effort to keep talking to people about the benefits of this product. She is now having some side income without any knowledge about running a business.
 
6. Flexible timing, do the business at one's own pace without any worries unlike conventional business over rental, staffs and unforeseen circumstances.
 
7. Leverage, on the effort of those people you enrolled, this is where the big money comes in, and the business continue to run 24 hours internationally.
 
8. Jeunesse offer a good and fair compensation plan to reward all levels of Executives and Directors, Incentive trips as well as monetary challenges occasionally.
 
9. Growth potential is tremendous since it's a young company.
 
10. No logistic problem, no shop front required, no office required, no warehousing and keeping stocks, all will be handled by the company.
 
11. It's a easy to learn business, sign up through Internet, payment through Internet and get the goods delivered to your doorstep, it can be done in more than 80 countries around the world!
 
12. Finally, if one do not wish to do the business, there is no maintenance required, no compulsory buying of goods every month. And, for business builders, it's just 60 CV maintenance per month.  That's just a packet of Reserve or Serum, that's all that is required for anyone to receive residual income.
 
13. Get your own website after signing up, mine is http://www.fat88trader.jeunesseglobal.com/
 
 
Knowledge is important, so take a look at the product, just Google and one can find all type of information from the Internet. Search "Resveratrol", an ingredient in Jeunesse best selling product, it is especially good for people who have diabetes, heart disease, reduce weight and many other benefits.  My mother-in-law's diabetes improves a lot after taking Reserve for 2 months, I will try to get the evidence of her medical report.
 
In China, go to this youku website by this American Chinese who went to Taiwan to give a presentation. http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDczNjI4NjUy.html , http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzYwMTgzMTI4.html or youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwxjmCNjtYo (Preview)
 and other videos on product knowledge.
 
For English go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsvJlcqrTT8 (Preview)
 and other videos.
 
From Eric,  an accountant stand point, doing this business is not difficult and no risk at all, we can get information on the Internet, introduce our friends from all over the world to check it out and help those who have problem with their health and those who want to look younger. You can even make friends through the Internet and introduce them this business.  
 
From my view, every business is tough in the beginning, takes time to learn, there are plenty of rejections, just need to persevere towards your dream, just like my sister-in-law, nothing great now but in a few years time, she might be a Diamond Director. 
 
For those who wish to work together with me, please contact me at fat88jeun@yahoo.com for more information. Do the business at your own pace.
 
Below are details of our Chinese Opportunity conducted by our "Diamond Director" from the US, Ms Tina Hu.
 
Date: 12 August 2013
Time: 7.30pm – 10.00pm
Venue: Novotel Clarke Quay 
Cinnamon BallRoom Level 5
177 River Valley Road
 

Admission: Free and come early to ensure a seat.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Caught

LONDON (CNN Money)- By Mark Thompson

High speed trader fined $3 million for commodity manipulation


Panther Energy 'spoofed' oil and commodity markets traded on CME exchanges.

Regulators have fined a U.S. high speed trading firm more than $3 million
for manipulating international markets in agricultural commodities and oil.


New Jersey-based Panther Energy Trading and its principal, Michael Coscia,
were fined a total of $3.1 million, and also ordered to hand over at least
$1.4 million in trading profits, for "spoofing" markets in crude oil,
natural gas and other commodities, such as wheat, soybean and corn.


Coscia was accused of using an algorithm to illegally place and quickly
cancel orders to buy and sell futures contracts traded on CME Group (CME)
exchanges and London's ICE during a two-month period, the regulators said.


Regulators said Coscia and his firm would place small sell orders they
wanted to execute, followed by several large buy orders at successively
higher prices that they intended to cancel, with the aim of artificially
inflating the price at which they could sell by creating an impression of
strong demand.


Once the sell order was filled by another market participant, Coscia would
cancel the buy orders and then reverse the process, racking up a profit
from the executions of small orders many times over between August and
October 2011.


"While forms of algorithmic trading are of course lawful, using a computer
program that is written to spoof the market is illegal and will not be
tolerated," said David Meister, enforcement director at the U.S. Commodity
Futures Trading Commission.


Panther and Coscia have been banned from trading on any CTFC-registered
entity for a year, and from CME markets for six months.


The CFTC said this was the first case pursued under Dodd-Frank rules that
explicitly prohibit placing buy or sell orders with the intent to cancel
before executing the trade.


The total financial penalty includes a CFTC penalty of $1.4 million, a CME
fine of $800,000, along with a fine of about $900,000 imposed by the U.K.
Financial Conduct Authority for Coscia's deliberate manipulation of Brent
crude, gas oil and West Texas Intermediate futures contracts on the ICE.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Break Your Own Rules

Looking for some inspiration on this First day of 2013 and came across this docmentary posted by another blogger ASSI. Warren Buffett made his Billions without a computer nor a calculator, sit in his office reading whole day, yet make consistent returns of 20% since 1965.



Is it easy to make 20% a year?  It's possible.  How many can be consistent year after year?  Probably only the top 1% of the traders can do it. What make Warren great?   It's the size of the funds he managed.

Warren is a investor, not a speculator or a trader like what most of us call ourselves, and admit it, for those 90% who are losing money, you are simply just a gambler!

What's the risk to make that 20% return a year?  Warren buy into a bussiness and own part of the businness with no leveraging and tell us not to get into debt.  He hold onto his investments for years.  He considers Derivatives trading as weapons of mass destruction.  He buys into value and his risk is low compared to traders like us.

We may not be able to follow what he is doing because we don't have the resources, we can't compare ourselves to Warren but we can learn from him. He want us to think independently, to allocate Capital efficiently and sometimes just have to break our own rules.

For that, I am going to try for 20% return this year, but I must admit my risk is definitely very much higher.