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Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 A Bit Of Payroll Foreplay
Posted by FT on May 2, 2008
Category: Trade Diaries, Economics, Currencies by FT Comment

I need to change my breakfast time. I tend to spend from 7 till just gone 8 at the desk; it’s useful partly to catch up on the overnight news and views, but also to avoid the pre-school maelstrom. By quarter past eight it’s usually safe to snatch a few Weetabix, but today it was a costly breakfast.


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 Reasons To Be Cheerful, One, Two, Three-NOT!
Posted by FT on May 1, 2008
Category: Views & Opinions, Economics, Currencies by FT 8 Comments

Morning Folks,
Today’s sunny start wasn’t confined to the big outdoors; the papers were full of it, and not just the Chelsea Echo. So, with Europe closed, and equity markets looking as dull as a James Blunt CD, I decided to have a scratch below the surface of this morning’s headlines.


Garden Gnome spent many years as a small-cap fund manager before his need to to spend more time with his lettuces got the better of him.
GG now spends rainy days trading equities and currencies. He likes to use a combination of technical analysis and news flow to make trading decisions.
 April Non-Farm Payrolls
Posted by Garden Gnome on May 1, 2008
Category: Economics, Currencies, Trades With Legs by Garden Gnome Comment

The grand-daddy of all economic indicators, the US Employment Report, is due at 1330 on Friday. So, whether you are planning to trade or just want to sit back and enjoy the fireworks, here’s a preview.


Garden Gnome spent many years as a small-cap fund manager before his need to to spend more time with his lettuces got the better of him.
GG now spends rainy days trading equities and currencies. He likes to use a combination of technical analysis and news flow to make trading decisions.
 FOMC Meeting
Posted by Garden Gnome on April 29, 2008
Category: Economics, Currencies, Trades With Legs by Garden Gnome 4 Comments

Just thought I drop in a few words on the Fed’s next rate setting meeting, the results of which are due at 1915 BST on Wednesday.

Most commentators are now expecting a cut of 0.25% although there is an outside chance of no change.


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 Indiana Brown And The Lost Economy
Posted by FT on April 16, 2008
Category: Trade Diaries, Economics, Currencies by FT Comment

After sorting out interest rates and the UK mortgage crisis, trouble-shooter Gordon Brown is off to tell US banks to ‘fess up to their losses. Also visiting the land of the free is the Pope, whose aim is to see Bush, and bash the bishops. Who’s going to have the most fun there then?

Over to the markets where oil and EURUSD reached new highs and equities put their worries behind them to push on once again.


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 When Is A Rate Cut Not A Rate Cut?
Posted by FT on April 11, 2008
Category: Trade Diaries, Economics, Currencies by FT Comment

The guys in Ireland could be forgiven for casting an envious glance across the sea at UK interest rates falling yet again; how long before they reach parity with European rates? But to be fair, you’re not missing out on anything. It’s a bit like being p*ssed off at not getting that party invite, only to hear later on that there was no alcohol and all the guests got stung for charity raffle tickets.


Garden Gnome spent many years as a small-cap fund manager before his need to to spend more time with his lettuces got the better of him.
GG now spends rainy days trading equities and currencies. He likes to use a combination of technical analysis and news flow to make trading decisions.
 Central bank meetings make equities a side show
Posted by Garden Gnome on April 9, 2008
Category: Economics, Trades With Legs by Garden Gnome Comment

Expectations of a cut of 0.25% by the Bank of England on Thursday have increased sharply on the back of yesterday’s woeful Halifax housing data. A plea by an increasingly desperate sounding Gordon Brown


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 The Scowling Scot And The White Knight
Posted by FT on April 9, 2008
Category: Trade Diaries, Economics, Shares & Indices, Currencies by FT 3 Comments

You can always tell when a Prime Minister is under pressure; he starts trying to do other people’s jobs. Yesterday, Gordon Brown (he who gave the Bank of England independence to set interest rates) decided that independence was wasted if the Bank didn’t toe the line. He opted for a public hint that inflation is low enough to allow a cut interest rates-NOW!.


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 Payrolls Payback
Posted by FT on April 4, 2008
Category: Trade Diaries, Economics, Currencies by FT Comment

Huh, yesterday I wrote an article (Roll Up, Roll Up, For the Payrolls Roulette) explaining some of the vagaries of the US Payroll data; however, I didn’t highlight just how irrationally the markets react to the figures. I should have known better, but I fell victim to a quick trade which deprived me of some weekend pocket-money.


Mr FT is a self-employed spread better. After 18 years in fund management he was given the choice of moving to London or .. not. ‘Not’ won out.

FT has been trading full time from home for two years, with nothing but four kids and a beach to distract him .

He fills his spare time with weight training and rugby, though more coaching than playing these days.

FT mostly trades the forex markets and although he plays FTSE on occasions his bread and butter market is £$.

He likes to think that his technique is evolving but still hasn’t the temperament or money to back the big calls. He prefers to trade between 1 and 3 times a day, aiming to take regular small gains, but feels part of the evolution is in not dealing if the conditions don’t feel right.
 Roll Up, Roll Up, For The Payrolls Roulette
Posted by FT on April 3, 2008
Category: Views & Opinions, Economics by FT 1 Comment

Payrolls, Payrolls, Smayrolls.
How many times over the past 6 months have we said, “…and the key event of the week is the Non-Farm Payrolls in the US,”?

There’s no other economic number like it; this is the Superbowl, Stars & Stripes and American Pie all rolled into one. Once a month traders around the world get their collective knickers in a twist over this high profile coin toss.

So why’s there always so much fuss about this number, why’s it got such a silly name and how reliable is it? Grab a large coffee and read on.


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