From The Desk Of A Trader #3
"I noticed some people are really exhausted."
Today, we are happy to share the thoughts from the desk of a soft commodities trader. The following views are that of Martijn Bron and do not represent the views of his employer.
Last week was quite something in the global financial #markets, and it affects how people feel. I noticed some people are really exhausted.
When you are in the #office, or #work from home alone, and watch everything being red on your #reuters screen every day, it can feel like the only thing markets can do is going down, to zero. You can't switch off your Reuters or #bloomberg screen as a professional, but for retail #investors it is better not to look at your #investing app on your phone several times per day. You know you are bleeding, you don't need to see it live. And you are not going to sell anyway, right?
I vividly recall the great financial crisis. That period felt like the end of times as we were close to an implosion of the whole financial system. During the depth of that crisis, between 2008 and 2011, I was touring the US with a colleague to do presentations for Cargill customers about the #cocoa markets. The start of the tour was in the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley. When I arrived at the hotel I always was struck by the difference between the hurricane in the #financialmarkets, and the total calm of business as usual in the hotel. Luxury cars were lining up, business people had their lunches and meetings, and our customers showed up in style from across the west coast US to listen to us. I would then send an e-mail back to the cocoa #trade team in Holland just saying "there is no crisis in Berkeley" to share an upbeat note to change their perspective. I have texted it four years in a row...
I also recall watching CNBC in 2009 in my hotel room when the #dowjones made its low just before I had to give my presentation. Gloomy #stockmarket, yet it never looked back since then, well before the #economy recovered.
What I learned from that period is that life goes on, and markets recover when you least expect it. Financial markets and the economy are not the same.
When I am away from the trading screens, during time off or travel, and I see all the people outside of the office just living their lives I always think, you see, life goes on normally, regardless of scary stuff happening in the financial markets. Most of them don't even know what happens in the financial markets, they don't feel exhausted or anxious, so why should I?
Those thoughts bring some different perspectives and helps dealing with what is an intense period for everyone involved in the financial markets right now. Good luck!
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