Real liquidity providers provide a value but it’s much less than they would give themselves credit for (hence the growth in dark pools). The rest earn by taking from real money accounts. thieves make money but no one would say they produce anything.
isnt it easy to determine value to society (at least in general terms)? We know it and we see it. or are you saying mother Theresa And a street walker are the same?
The man who wrote that, never made any money. He is a loser, so his opinion is at least hugely biased. Which loser would tell anything positive about trading? And the logic "if I cannot make money, nobody can" is only good to protect his own ego.
I'm confused. Can you please explain how day/quant/hedge fund trading is "taking from real money accounts" or equivalent to thievery?
its not thievery, but most of the strategies involve capturing some kind of inefficiency. All trading is a zero sum game so that money has to come from somewhere. It’s coming from real money accounts who don’t see the slippage.
You're only good as your last trade? So if I lost money, I'm now a loser? Puhleeeeeez! Trading is a JOURNEY, not a destination. It's the constant process of self-improvement that will define you as a successful trader. Learn from your mistakes and grow your spirit, not just your fat head. Above all, don't become a slave to trading. Instead, enjoy the process.
Great thread. I think newwurldmn and Mr Muppet are discussing both sides of the same coin, as some people are practical while others are abstract. The analogy I like to use is, some people buy homes while others rent and invest the difference. There are thousands of websites arguing for one or the other but at the end of the day, the cost/benefit is a reflection of one's comfort with abstraction over practicality. In work and life, some seek greater meaning than making money, while others find that money is freedom to be/do anything one wants. All are right, it's the beauty of diverse journeys. The challenge is to understand oneself early in life to fulfill one's aspirations but it's never too late to get there.
This inefficiency is what trading desks want, as that pays for their salary and for the banks profits. Trading is like war, you try to catch other people's money while they try to catch yours. All trading is based on inefficiency. People buy goods because buying is cheaper than making it yourself. So they take advantage of your inefficiency. If they can make it cheaper themselves, they will neve buy it.
The one thing you achiev as a retailer that is/was profitable and not wealthy before trading is to not have a boss who tells you what to do while clsiming your achievements to be his. You're free. Something only entrepeneurs could claim but those have customers as bosses... You were free. Depending on how much you made you are still free.