The mind of a Trader

The mind of a trader is a wonderful thing. When it comes to analysing information, sifting out what's important, what is relevant, analysing its effect and putting a price on the whole thing, a trader's mind could rival the most advanced supercomputer. But when it comes to remembering what happened in the past, the mistakes that led to previous crashes, heck forget about previous crashes even the inflation numbers that were declared 2 weeks back, the trader's memory could rival an industrial sized sieve. Its just wonderful how events in the financial markets keep repeating themselves. It's like watching re-makes of some old comedy or horror flick, I'm not quite sure which.
Just look around you. Forget the US markets, those are like a constant circus. If the Fed Chairman so much as grimaces on a burp, the markets will take this as a hawkish stance and will accordingly crash. The Asian Markets are like Russian Roulette, while the globe is reeling under the credit crunch, spiking inflation, a global slowdown, the Shanghai market will be little over 9% up in a single trading session. As obelix would say, "These Traders are crazy". A trader's mind is like the most advanced supercomputer with a 64 MB memory card.
I wonder what would happen if people stopped looking at what happened yesterday and today and started looking at what happened over the year. What would happen if traders started thinking objectively. If they stopped flying off the hook at the smallest of issues.... well, for starters we wouldn't have crossed 20k. That's because as soon as we hit 18500 the objective ones would be booking their profits and the markets would meander along, everyone would still be making money.
Aah Nirvana. Where the oft used maxim "Buy on rumor, sell on News" would have no scope. Where news items would not be discounted three hours before they were announced. Where stocks would not trade at 50 times their expected earnings two years hence. Where elusive land values were not factored in 5 years before the first foundation hole is dug.
But of course where would the fun be in that? That would be so staid. Heck the markets would be as interesting as watching moss grow.
Nah, the trader and his defective memory card and the violent swings of the market are what makes this whole job so interesting. The high you get knowing your portfolio is zipping along to the skies is like none other. And when the trend reverses and you realise you weren't quick enough to get out, the shocked stupor you find yourself in could rival any and every hangover. Surviving this market is like a right of passage. Everyone should go through it. Its the ultimate game of chicken. The only place where you can lose not just your returns but all of your life saving... commonly known as losing your pants - your shirt being the returns and that's long gone. The Stock Markets are the ultimate adrenaline junkie haven. Extreme sports has nothing on a lower circuit. Move over kids - The Traders are here.