Futures-market

Where was this book my first year of college? Choosing a major and making other good choices in my life would have been much easier. However, the idea of "career volunteering" was the one thing that set me on the right path.

I was first drawn to the works of Peter Steidlmeyer in 1993 as a futures trader by a colleague who explained that the features that I noted about the frenzied interest rate futures markets, had been encapsulated by this author. Without reading the book I tried to monitor the market activities in the profile that had been explained to me. Strangely enough, there was a pattern apparent on the daily sheets of paper that I started to collect.

It was not until late 1999 that I revisited the phenonmenon when I started to trade on my own account from an office. I recalled the works and decided to pick up the book. It was an incredible revelation and revitalised my enthusiasm for day trading. Many people feel that they have a gut instinct in understanding where markets will trade, but Steidlmeyer's statistical approach formalises much of this. I was particularly interested in how his upbringing and his experiences as a child and the responsibilities he was given formed his approach to trading as a pro. From the writing you will learn the importance of watching rather than partaking in the opening hour of the market, which is often a money saver. it will teach you rules of discipline, because it makes sense.

What I failed to take away from the book in working practice was the application of options volume from the 'far-traders,' the people who were bothered about the long-term haul, and how this could be witnessed in practice. There is certainly a lot of truth in it, but I could not match this with my experience as a day trader. The statistical comprehension of Market Profile is skillfully explained and is profitable to those who adopt it. the book is well written, understandable to the novice and is sound advice.

a book which seems quite interesting

This book covers oil futures, options and OTC derivatives. The similarities of derivative markets means that really any energy trading executive can learn from this book - the principles are the same regardless of the underlying commodity. Strongly recommended for people moving into trading, or with an interest in the energy derivative industry. This book is easy to understand and assumes no prior knowledge of derivatives or oil.

Was very pleased with the material contained in this book. Although I am a beginner in the natural gas trading field, I found Sturm's book both easy to understand yet challenging in its scope. A great deal of emphasis is placed upon various hedging techniques and many helpful diagrams are included to portray the trading flow. Overall a very unique and insightful book for beginners and for those with years of experience in trading natural gas.

I am a long time UFO researcher and I found this book really helpful. It presents the facts from an objective view, and gives you the officially released documents proving that what happened is true. It may be a bit outdated, but for serious UFO researchers it may come in handy!

I bought Market Wizards because I am working at an Ibank trading bonds this summer. But what I found is not so much a book that tells about stochastics, models, spread swaps, or other technical stuff , but what I did find is a book that takes you into the mind of a trader. Some of these guys have made and lost millions in a day, and the thoughts that must go through their head are mind-boggling when you control millions of demanding investors' money. The value of Schwager's book lies in its potential to teach you about what mental qualities these guys all possess that make them such good traders. Using real-life examples, they preach seemingly easy tenets all traders should follow but often do not. A lot of these psychological mindframes are difficult to maintain - cutting losses, trading without emotion, confidence in positions, and above all, not to be greedy. The interview with Ed Seykota (consummate yet eccentric trader) almost makes the book worth the money. A lot of what they say seems very simple and straightforward, but until you manage millions like these guys have, you will have to settle with a vicarious lesson that teaches you these important mental traits. All of his lessons should be absorbed before you step onto the trading floor thinking you are going to own Wall Street.

This book contain the interview of some of the more 'senior' well-known personalities in the trading world. Sometimes I share my view on something and people tell me they don't think it is possible. One such area is the idea that it is possible to pick tops and bottoms accurately, which goes against the conventional wisdom. I am happy to quote from the interview of Mr. Paul Tudor Jones who says: I believe that the best money is to be made at the market turns. I have caught a lot of bottoms and tops."

If you believe that you have a view on a subject matter which is being shunned by the majority, then this book may have just about the same idea given in one of the interviews, thus strengthening your confidence in what you stand for.. Remember, in this business it pays to be unconventional, because 95% of traders follow the standard principle and thats just about the same percentage of traders that lose their money in trading commodities!

I was told about this book from a friend of mine who worked at Chase in the FX market, he calls it his bible. If I didn't already have a bible, this would be it for me.

Had I read this book before I started trading (FX - Euro/Sterling/Yen) I would have saved thousands!! This book is a must read for anyone who is going to trade.

I have read Murphy (Technical Analysis), Jiler (Charts), and Zweig (Winning on Wall Street). And while these books are also very good, this book by Schwager really speaks to my experiences in the market.

I have read other customer reviews on this book, most of them giving a well deserved 5 stars, some of them complaining that this book didn't disclose 'secrets' or 'how to', there is no book that is going to tell you the 'secrets' of 'how to' win, but this book tells you how to look in yourself to make a winner.

Forget fundementals and technical, if you can't understand timing, risk, loss, entry, etc., your dead, or will be soon!!

I did attempt to look up each of these people who were interviewed to see where they are now. Many of them seem to have stopped trading, or I simply couldn't find any info on them. I also bought the book "New Market Wizards" but haven't read it yet. I wish there was a book like this that was written after 2000, as the market place is a whole lot different now with the Internet and the computing power that we have in order to do research.

Mr. Schwager if you are reading this PLEASE write another book, I would like to understand how the Internet has changed the market (for both big and small players). As many of you know, a lot of publicly traded companies that exist today would not have had an IPO had it not been for the ability for millions of small investors (via eTrade, Ameritrade, etc.) to invest into these companies. The small investor can play where only the big boys used to.

Bottom line if you want to play in the markets you should read this book. Hey if you don't like the book you can always sell it on Amazon (or ebay - but Amazon won't be happy!!).

Good luck to you, and remember it is only money!!

WOW! I thought Zahn's Thrawn trilogy couldn't be beat, but I was wrong! "Vision of the Future" summed up the Star Wars books beautifully and gets you ready for the New Order books. Zahn's plot is, as always, amazing. He takes the characters we already know and love, and gives them new life. We see Luke as we never have before, discover Karrde's secret past, and meet the REAL Mara Jade.

In Vision, the New Republic is on the brink of civil war over a long forgotten issue. While in the Empire, Pelleon plans for peace. But neither side realizes the danger lurking in the fringe...

I thought the story was excellent, especially the Luke/Mara relationship! Star Wars needs some more of that kind romance. I thought the Luke/Mara scenes were refreshing, beautiful, and a wonderful plot twist. I hope to see more of these two in future books!
I give this book five stars and it deserves every one! THANK-YOU ZAHN!

A MUST READ! Zahn set the whole Star Wars book line in motion with the Thrawn Trilogy, and this duology goes right next to them in my SW Hall of Fame. Zahn hooked me with his first SW books, and this one was like mind candy- exactly what I wanted, pulled off with class and style. Kinda like baby boomers being nostalgic, this book took me back to what I consider the "Golden Era" of Star Wars, when Luke, Leia and Han were still young and out to save the galaxy. As for Luke and Mara: thank goodness! There's two sides to this argument- too bad it took 17 years to finally find him the right girl, but thank god the other authors didn't attempt this! If KJA had, the wedding probably would have turned into a front seat at a catfight match between Callista and Mara. (Sure it sounds unrealistic-but this is KJA we're talking about). Zahn is THE best SW author- I wish that he had written all the SW books. Can't wait for the next one!

It's tough to classify Timothy Zahn's Hand of Thrawn Duology. Sure, it's got all the space battling, swashbuckling, hero derring-do that you'd expect from the franchise, but it's also something inherently individual. In Specter of the Past, Zahn took the road less-traveled, creating a story apart from the usual "New Superweapon" cliche, adding lots of political intrigue and shadow games to the mix.

What readers got was a sort of Tom Clancy Star Wars novel, if you will. The characters and situations felt incredibably real, despite the fantastic setting, and the plot threads and character arcs were more than believable. There was a feeling in the book that, because this was so different, the outcome could also be different, forever changing the Star Wars universe.

And it is, and it does. In Vision of the Future, the opus of Zahn's Hand of Thrawn Duology, there is easily enough material for two books, or more. Encompassing nearly 700 pages, Vision manages to both drive the narrative along at a perfect pace, but also deepens the mythos of the universe, the characters, and the history of what went before the rise of the Galactic Empire.

The book starts, as does all of Zahn's Thrawn-related material, aboard the Star Destroyer Chimera, as seen through the eyes of Admiral Pelleon. From here, we are swept through the galaxy, from Coruscaunt to the Bothan's home planet, from the Imperial strondhold of Bastion to the planet Nirauan, a mysterious and dangerous fortress with links to Thrawn's past.

Han and Lando continue their search for the truth about the supposed return of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the greatest threat the New Republic has ever faced, and also seek the truth about the Bothan involvement in the massacre of an entire planet. Leia struggles to hold the New Republic together as factions split over the scandal and the galaxy is once again pushed to the brink of civil war.

Luke and Mara, on the other side of the cosmos, fight their own battles. Making their way through the mysterious fortress known as The Hand of Thrawn, they must avoid hostile aliens, entrenched Imperials, uncover the secrets of Thrawn's past and future, and come to terms with their feelings toward one another.

Here, Zahn brings the galactic conflict as we know it to a brilliant close, while setting the stage for the darker New Jedi Order series. Even as he weaves a tale of power and peace, he also deals with important issues with the main characters; namely the relationship between Luke and Mara. I for one was glad to see this resolved, as NONE of the previous books even tried to add anything to these characters who Zahn had set up in his original trilogy with an almost painful amount of foreshadowing. It was infinitely satisfying to read the beginning of the next stage of their wandering relationship. Bravo.

All in all, I couldn't ask for a better way to see the old guard of Star Wars books depart, of think of a better high note to hit while doing so. With some of the most reading, best humor, frenetic action, and pleasently subtle series references, Vision of the Future is just that, as well as being a wonderful memory of the past.

Thank you Timothy Zahn. The Force will be with you. Always.

Despite my skepticism of many technical analysis (ie. charting) techniques, I bought this book a) because it was widely acclaimed; 2) I had hoped John Murphy, a prominent technician, would address some of the major criticisms leveled against TA. I was sadly mistaken. Only 2-3 pages are devoted to answering the claims of credible research that suggests stock prices are essentially random. Murphy's best answer seems to be that because some charts exhibit trends, technical analysis is validated. This is a complete non sequitir.

The first half of the book is devoted to charting methods, which he characterizes as both reliable and _subjective._ Excuse me, but how can a technique be deemed reliable if two practitioners cannot agree on what the data mean? This section is heavy on claims, but lacking any solid evidence.

Fortunately, the book isn't a total waste. There is an extensive review of more reliable and quantitative techniques, such as moving averages, oscillators, Boillinger Bands, etc. This part is probably the most useful portion of the book. Of further interest is the use of TA for intermarket analysis, developing trading systems, and the method of Japanese Candlestick charting, which might have something of value.

A good rebuttal to the exaggerated claims of TA is _Stock Market Logic_ by Norman Fosback, who has developed some powerful trading systems of his own.

If you are already a convert to TA, you will love this book. If you are a skeptic, nothing in this text will change your mind. My advice: absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and (most importantly) add something specifically your own. (Thank You Bruce Lee!)

Investing isn't easy. Investing profitably is even harder. As a result, investors are always looking for that 'angle', that 'edge' that will help them realize more consistent profits.

In the past 2 decades, many on Wall Street have come to believe that technical analysis of stock charts is one of those tools. Having worked in the financial services markets since 1987, I do believe that technical analysis can be a helpful tool. And if you are looking for a definitive source of TA, then look no further.

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John Murphy covers all the basic aspects of TA: philosophy, chart construction, fundamental vs. technical analysis, trends, major technical pattern recognition, moving averages, oscillators, times cycles, computer trading systems and much more. He also covers different methods of charting, including bar, point and figure and candlestick (be aware that most of the analysis techniques he presents apply to bar charting, not PnF or candlestick).

What I like most about the book is that it written clearly, simply and logically. It uses many graphical examples that SHOWS the reader what to look for. It does not rage on about the merits of TA (which many investors feel is complete hooey) but how to apply basic (and sophisticated) TA techniques. I use TA frequently in my business and find that it helps me manage my client's portfolios more effectively, especially when it comes to SELLING a position, whether to lock-in gains or limit losses.

If you are a TA convert, or if you have an interest in learning more about it, this book is a useful guide and should be purchased. Today, it remains one of the few investment reference books that I keep in my office.

This is a great book on technical analysis. The fundamentals are all here from pattern recognition to indicators. TA is essential anyone who wants better entries and exits on stocks and other financial instruments. This is the building block to using trading strategies to win in both bull and bear markets. For actually trading strategies, I recommend Dave Landry on Swing Trading or Street Smarts, but this book is the perfect start.

The X-Files: Fight The Future novelisation of the feature film has been released and it is fantastic, mainly because it contains extra scenes and dialogue that were not included in the movie (most probably cut out)-- one specific scene is the explanation of Samantha's abduction and her DEATH and to make her a human/alien hybrid, so she would be immune to the effects of the black oil (This scene was NOT included in the movie!) Knowing that it is written by the legendary Chris Carter himself is even better and makes you read on and on and on - I suggest you read this book AFTER you see the movie, however, as it seems much better (I, unfortunately, did the opposite - but the movie is still better than the book). The book captures the mood and atmosphere of the feature film, but unfortunately it cannot convey all the special effects, loud explosions and the visual graphics onto the pages. A must have for any X-Phile, movie buff or anyone else -- incase you miss the movie, pick it up, also. 5 sunflower seeds out of 5!

This book is excellent. This book was pratically word-for-word with added parts. That's what I like in an adaptation. I really liked this book. Worth all six dollars, even though I was a little dissapointed with the pictures. The discriptions are really good. Especially the discriptions of the scene in Mulder's hallway and the part in Antarctica. I finished this book in less than one day. I couldn't put it down. Even if you aren't an X-Phile, I think you could be interested in this book and absolutely love it. I saw the movie first, so it was easy to picture the scenes in my head. I enjoyed every part of it. A job very well done.

This is an excellent adaptation of the feature film The X-Files: Fight the Future. Elizabeth Hand took Chris Carter's script and transferred it to book form in the most faithful way possible. If you've seen the movie (and I would certainly recommend seeing the movie before reading this adaptation of it), you will "see" the entire movie in your mind as you read along. The dialogue is word for word, the descriptions are an exact match to the scenes in the movie, and you will not find anything from the movie that is not translated onto these pages. Strangely enough, the book feels more rushed than the movie did, and the written word doesn't convey as strong a visual image of the film's culminating action in Antarctica, but I think this is clearly due to the fact that this book was borne of the movie and not vice versa.

Lest you think there is no reason to read this adaptation of the movie, I should point out that there is a tiny bit of material here that you will not see in the film itself. This extra material concerns the fate of Mulder's little sister Samantha, and I can't imagine why such an important exchange between Mulder and the Well-Manicured Man was left out of the film. This is information that goes to the very root of Mulder's obsessive commitment to uncovering "the truth."

The initial hardback release features several pages of excellent color stills from the film, which make quite a nice addition to an important and very readable novel. Even if you've seen the film so many times you have all the lines memorized, this is a book every X-Files fan really should read and own.