How did you get into futures trading?

I have had a fascination with trading for a long time but became very interested in the markets at the start of the banking crisis. I saw news articles talking about the extent to which the S&P500 or Dow had sold off and how specific stocks had plunged to less than half their value in a single day! I wanted to understand this phenomenon and began to learn more about it. I soon decided that I wanted to work in an environment where I could be at the heart of this action. I applied to join Futex, learned more about trading whilst at the Academy and was able to pursue my interest in the global markets professionally.

Tell me about your early trading experiences.

Starting out is hard. It takes a while to find your way in the market and the approach that is best suited to you. You need to find your niche in the market. Many people trade very actively for short-term fluctuations, others trade by taking a longer term position, some do both. Early trading experiences nearly always involve trying out many different approaches in order to find one that works for you.

What trading do you perform now and which products do you trade?

All of my trades are now executed as part of a system. These are most often intraday position trades that may be held for the duration of a trading session or, occasionally, overnight until the next morning. They will be placed in markets such as the S&P 500, e-mini Dow, Dax or FTSE, depending on the setup encountered.

What information do you use to make your trading decisions?

My trading decisions are derived from researching historical market behavior over a large period of time in order to find areas where an edge may be present. Trading systems are then designed to trade these setups in an automated way so as to remove emotion. This execution is performed using computer programming techniques which Futex also make available as a service to clients through its Strategy Research department.

How do you see your trading evolving over the next 12 months?

I see things progressing steadily. I am working on some ideas with a fellow Futex colleague who operates a Hedge Fund which may lead to me broadening out into other markets. In terms of market behavior I see the potential for some large trends to form which will provide good trading opportunities. If my system’s performance is good then it is correct to broaden scope and increase size in order to develop and take the most from the market under such a scenario.

What, in your experience, makes a successful trader?

Hard work and a keen focus on the market at all times. There are many styles and approaches to trading, but most traders display a genuine interest and enjoyment when it comes to researching the market and trading it. This enables them to keep a sharp edge over the other participants and maintain the commitment that is needed to progress.

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