#71 Adam Sorab - Technical Analysis : Far more than merely a tool used for analysing market price action

06/15/21 • 60 min

Many people new to trading, and even many veterans, have a very limited view of Technical Analysis. They often see it as merely a tool used for analysing market price action, or may hold beliefs which may lead them to be sceptical or even cynical about its usefulness or validity. Yet, technical analysis is far more than merely a tool for analysing the market price action, it can provide an entire framework for your trading. This includes helping improve timing of discretionary actions, forming the core underpinnings of systematic or quant-based approaches, enhancing your fundamental trading views, and even being a vital part of your risk management approach.

In this episode we talk to Adam Sorab. Adam is a partner at a UK based hedge fund and someone with a deep and long history in the financial markets within trading and investment roles. Adam has played an active role as a significant user of technical analysis, and has also held a major role in some of the world's leading Technical Analysis Institutions. As you will hear, Adam is one of the most informed people on all things technical analysis and how to use it effectively and productively.

Today Adam is a partner at Aptior Capital, a distressed debt hedge fund based in the UK. Prior to that, and for over a decade, he was head of technical research and product specialist sales at the hedge fund giant CQS where he produced technical analysis-based investment research and strategy for their traders and portfolio managers. Prior to that Adam held various roles, including his early years’ experience as an FX trader at the Swiss Investment Bank Credit Suisse, and head of Absolute Return strategies at Deutsche Bank Asset Management.

Adam holds a Honours Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and has been heavily involved with our sponsorship partner the Society of Technical Analysts (the STA) where he was formerly chairman and remains a member of their ‘Investment committee’. Adam was also president of the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA), the global body which the STA is itself a constituent member of.

Adam brings a wealth of experience and insight that we are delighted and honoured to be able to share with our podcast audience, and which we are certain you will find informative, insightful and may challenge some of your long-held perspective and beliefs. Adam also talks about the STA outstanding Home Study Course and their Diploma programme, which is accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), the leading professional body for securities, investment, wealth and financial planning professionals.
You can find out more about the Society of Technical Analysts (The STA) and how you can become a member on their webpage: https://technicalanalysts.com

You can follow the STA on Twitter here

You can also gain a discount on their brilliant Home Study course and Home Study Course and Diploma programme exclusively through AlphaMind at this link here.

AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global Markets
AlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets.
Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities.
Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

You can follow the STA on Twitter here

You can also gain a discount on their brilliant Home Study course and Home Study Course and Diploma programme exclusively through AlphaMind at this link here.

Previous Episode

#70 Denise Shull - Developing Visceral Intelligence

We are delighted to welcome back the wonderful Denise Shull to the AlphaMind podcast to talk about Visceral Intelligence and Trading. Visceral intelligence is the literal feeling that you get in your body that correlates with a decision you’re trying to make or an experience you are having.

Denise is making her second appearance as a guest on the AlphaMind podcast. As one of the leading performance coaches in the trading and investment world, Denise has specialised in applying neuroeconomics and modern psychoanalysis in her work with hedge fund portfolio managers and high performance professional athletes. She is also the founder of The Rethink Group and author of one of the best-selling books on trader mindset – Market Mind Games

In this episode we explore Visceral Intelligence and how we spend so much time up in our heads ruminating over the past and stressing about the future, that we miss out on vital clues and insights which our body and its feelings reveal and provide. This is why visceral intelligence and connecting with your body is so important.
This episode covers a range of themes of interest to new and seasoned traders alike, including:

· How brain research on aspects of emotion, insight, intuition come to impact our trading practices.

· How we can use this insight on emotions to make better trading decisions.

· Useful analogies to compare to trading to improve how we manage ourselves as we navigate our way through the markets.

· Developing visceral intelligence by naming our feelings and recognising how we can use these.

· Emotions and risk-decisions and recognising what is important and what is not.

· The Cognitive and emotional Intelligence partnership and how ‘the body keeps the score’.

· Keeping a track of your emotions to help make better trading decisions going forward.

· How our trading systems are unique to each individual and how this makes learning other people’s systems so challenging.

· Improving your learning through greater knowledge of yourself.

· Categorising your emotions and listening to your body’s feeling without judgement.

· The challenge and benefits of learning these elements when we have a resistance to honest self-reflection.

· The dangers of cutting yourself off from your feelings.

You can find out more about Denise and her work at:

The Rethink Group website: https://rethinkgroupltd.com/
You can follow Denise on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/DeniseKShull
Denise’s book is ‘Market Mind Games: A Radical Psychology of Investing, Trading and Risk’.

Next Episode

#72 Jason Shapiro – Through Trader Hell and Back, to Market Wizard

30 years of trading success brought Jason Shapiro to the attention of Jack Schwager, who was looking for new interview subjects for the latest instalment of his brilliant series of Market Wizards books ‘Unknown Market Wizard’. Shapiro’s chapter in the book is called ‘The Contrarian’, which tells you pretty much all you need to know about his approach and style.

In this episode, Jason opens up with about his trading approach, his contrarian philosophy and a whole host of topics around the trading process which listeners will find fascinating.

Jason talks passionately about trading and his work. Some of the themes Jason talks about include: Why he is a contrarian. How being a contrarian is not the same as being countertrend. Finding your edge. The importance of getting the process right. Being objective in your views. How market’s discount the news. Using the Commitment of Trader’s report. And a host of themes which will inspire and fascinate the listener.

Jason really opens up with great honesty about the realities of trading, of how he has been to hell and back more than once, the pain of losing, the learning experiences of becoming successful then losing it all, the journey and path to better process and practice, of how trading success is ‘the long game’.

This is one of those interviews which is full of nuggets and lessons from beginning to end. Do not switch this episode off early, because it just gets hotter is it goes along.

Jason also talks about the Crowded Market Report, a Futures trading education website which focuses on and supports traders in developing a unique contrarian approach. Also full kudos to the Crowded Market Report, who donate a portion of their proceeds to the Charlestown Early Learning Center, a non-profit organization, to provide a high quality, affordable educational program for 3, 4, and 5 year old children in the local community.

You can learn more Jason at the Crowded Market report here: https://www.crowdedmarketreport.com/about/

You can follow them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Crowded_Mkt_Rpt

And connect with them on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmr-publishing/