Cool Imoge

You left Credit Suisse at the end of 1998 and then arrive at Commerzbank, right?
Yes, in February 1999, having been out of the market for a couple of months. I was somewhat disappointed to have missed the start of trading for EUR/USD!


Tell us how you worked your way up to become head of FICC Technical analysis Research...
I started working for the Treasury department initially covering primarily FX and bullion, then after a few years I was merged into the investment bank. At that time I was the FX technical analyst and reported to the head of FX strategy, but the whole team worked with the FX division. While there, the demand for technical analysis grew and I was asked to increase coverage to include interest rate products and as consequence I gained another colleague to assist me. As I already covered bullion I was asked to cover commodities as well, hence I became head of FICC Technical Analysis Research.


What is the FICC Technical Analysis Research's job?
The group is responsible for forecasting and formulating technical trading strategy globally and covers foreign exchange, fixed Income, emerging markets and commodities.

What about Forex in particular do you find interesting, as opposed to commodities, FI and other instruments under your command?
Of all the markets I analyze - it is FX I enjoy the most. It is simply much harder to do - there is more data to analyze for starters as it trades 24 hours a day, the way it trades in the various time zones can give you early clues of market direction. It is also much more volatile - after all FX participants hold their positions for much shorter durations compared to say stocks or bonds. It is a market which the discipline of technical analysis is ideally suited. Technical analysts are able to use some fairly short term time frames - also most FX participants use charts extensively, so it is in this area where we have most interaction with sales and trading.

'Chart Tarts'? Where that nickname comes from?
A lot of people in the dealing room had nicknames and this was just an affectionate moniker. The team consisted of 3 ladies (which was unusual back then), Tart rhymed with Chart, that's it. I think we were christened the nickname by the FX spot desk.
None of us were offended by it. we all liked it! There was a lot more banter back then, political correctness has killed this, which in some ways is a shame. I remember it being more of a laugh.
If ever anybody said anything that I felt was out of line, I used to wait pull them to one side and quietly explain they had upset me. They were always truly horrified that they had done so and apologized profusely. Once you explained where the line was - no-one ever crossed it!