The start of summer brought a sharp reversal in the crowded momentum and AI trade, triggering a bout of volatility in technology stocks and putting pressure on global equity markets. Then came the usual reminder that markets rarely give us just one thing to worry about. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East added another…
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More than just a currency move
There was a rather interesting development in the currency markets recently one that did not make too many headlines but probably should have. The US and Japanese authorities appear to have stepped in together to support the Yen. Not through a loud, headline-grabbing intervention but through a more coordinated and, shall we say, elegant approach….
Everyone has an opinion
People seem to have a natural attraction to negative and sensational news. Bad news gets attention, good news is often ignored, and social media has made everyone a commentator whether they actually know what happened or not. We hear something, read a headline, see a 30-second video and suddenly we know the whole story. Sometimes…
Arrival, crowds and conversations
Away from the volatile markets, I have been accommodating some visitors, one of whom is a friend from Guangzhou who was in town this past week. He has done very well for himself back home, building a successful business over the years. It shows not just in what he has achieved but in how he…
The seven levels of consciousness
In his 1963 book “The Science of Existence and the Art of Living”, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi states that through the practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM) techniques, over time, the conscious mind becomes familiar with the deeper levels of the mind and the subconscious mind becomes familiar with it naturally. He said he would…
The state of the markets
While “The Big Short” investor Michael Burry is sticking with his bearish wagers even as the S&P 500 hits record highs, I spent some time on a video call with investors and partners discussing the state of the markets and, of course, our model portfolios. Many charts popped up during the discussion. Probably too many….
The seed of creation
I picked up this simple yet deeply insightful story translated from Hindi that invites us to reflect on the unseen, subtle forces that drive the world around us, reminding us that from the simplest, most unassuming beginnings, the grandest creations can unfold. Once a master was sitting with his disciples under a huge banyan tree,…
Working with the right people
A couple of years ago, I put on a pair trade for a “sophisticated” client. One side was the anchor – multi-strategy and income, built for ballast. The other was the satellite – more aggressive positions in AI and China, built for growth. The aggressive side hit a rough patch and suffered losses. That was…
Resilience is turning into recovery
I’m not the most active person on LinkedIn, more of a quiet observer who scrolls now and then. I do make new connections occasionally (selectively, of course). At the risk of upsetting some people, LinkedIn can sometimes feel like a stage where many are more interested in “showing off” than sharing real insights or adding…
Pranayama breathing
Pranayama, an ancient practice rooted in the Vedas and detailed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, a foundational Hindu scripture from around 200 B.C., involves breathing exercises designed to clear physical and emotional blockages, freeing the breath and allowing the flow of prana, or life energy. Typically, Pranayama is practiced before meditation to prepare the mind and…