I have started this blog to share my two cents worth of personal research on various aspects of trading in stocks, indices, exchange-traded funds, commodities, FX pairs, and cryptocurrencies. I trade all these asset classes full-time with my own funds.

 

It all started as a hobby back in 2007 few months into my new job in Saudi Arabia at Engineering & Technology Services, which I landed after completing Masters degree in Environmental Engineering. They were truly crazy days of unabated rise of almost everything - crude oil touching $100 per barrel for the first time, gold rising from $638 to $1032 in a matter of few months, stock markets at record levels, skyhigh real estate prices in about every major market, mega projects announced all over the globe. The economic and financial buzz was intriguing.

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I was almost preoccupied with the idea of gaining some understanding of how all this was working out and how everything is interconnected to make the world move, so to speak. I spent most of my free time back then watching business news and reading whatever I could find about trading and investment. At some point, I decided to dip my toe into this world I was observing and reading about for a few months now, and bought my first 3 ounces of Suisse Gold bars. I sold them about a year later with a net gain of 17% (beginner's luck). 

 

While I was basking in the glory of cracking the code of gold market, online brokers with propriety trading systems that were new in the market at that time, were able to draw attention of aspiring traders like me who wanted to dabble in global markets but does not have the money to buy Bloomberg terminal or have a huge account with an investment firm. Long story short, I opened an account with an online brokerage company and made some profit before blowing it up within next few weeks. Ironically, it was a gold trade that forced my first margin call. For some reason, I persevered with trading despite some further setbacks. I think it was the depth of the entire realm of trading - technical, fundamental, psychological, social and a deeper understanding of managing risk - that kept drawing me to it.

 

After almost 11 years in engineering, while pursuing my trading goals on the periphery, I left ETS as Operations Manager in September 2017. I cherish my time at ETS as I was able to play a significant role in establishing multiple business lines in a uniquely challenging economic environment, which allowed me to grow professionally. The decision to leave engineering field for trading should have been difficult. However, I came to a point where I was certain that trading global markets is what I want to pursue with full focus.

 

Over the years, I have developed a firm belief about markets that no trader can "figure them out". Whatever edge anyone has found in a particular market using fundamental and technical analysis will fade away. It's respecting this fact that you will eventually, if not often, be wrong and shift focus on ways to avoid the worst, so that you can live to fight another day is what ultimately gives a trader long-term success. It may sound simple, but in practice, it is highly counter-intuitive and proves to be the ultimate challenge - to tame the beast that is your own ego, which does not like to be proven wrong even once, let alone repeatedly.

 

The entire process of finding inter-dependencies between global elements, hardcore technicalities and self discipline, while earning money along the way, makes trading the best profession for me.

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I again warmly welcome you to my blog and look forward to receiving your valuable feedback on my posts that will surely help me grow further as a trader.

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Sincerely,