What is the asset class and geography you are focused on?
I am an international trader so cover all the major markets from Asia through to New York, including the Middle East and London. I cover forex (currencies) and precious metals, which includes gold, silver, platinum and palladium, as well as CFDs [contracts for difference] including indexes, hard and soft commodities.
What is the outlook for the month ahead in your opinion?
I would sum this up by saying strong dollar and weak metals. We started the year trying to forget what is happening in the euro zone, but nothing has been resolved and the Cyprus bailout came along to remind us of this fact. The financial crisis means that we will continue to see the dollar strengthening as other currencies weaken. The lack of global growth also means continued weakness with metals.
What are the main risks (either upside or downside) to the outlook?
I am a technical analyst and look at the long term, underlying, behaviour of the markets, but at the moment fundamentals, daily news, keep influencing what is happening. If we do see a further problem with Cyprus or another euro-zone country this could lead to more negative sentiment and drying up of liquidity. I don't think this would be a risk to the outlook but it could lead to a more severe response. Unfortunately, I don't believe that there will be an answer which will lead to strong growth in the foreseeable future.
What is the best investment at the moment in your opinion?
I would look to be long on the dollar, whether this is against the yen or the euro. We did see a small rise in gold when the Cyprus bailout was announced but any gains have been lost and I would suggest that metals will remain bearish through April.
What was the best investment you were ever involved in?
I cannot point to one investment, but in the late 1990s trading equities in the tech bubble was a very exciting time, as was trading US and Swiss stocks around 2002 and 2003. The markets were extremely dynamic with investors who had a large appetite for risk, and who wanted to see very high returns.
What was the worst?
The worst period for trading I have been involved with was in 2009, when the global financial crisis first hit. Liquidity dried up, no one would take on risk and markets almost came to a stop.
This is the first of our trader profiles which will run for three Mondays of each month.
ghunter@thenational.ae
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court (4pm UAE/12pm GMT)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x30)
Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Fabio Fognini (ITA x28)
Court 1 (4pm UAE)
Steve Johnson (USA x26) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)
Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Venus Williams (USA x10)
Court 2 (2.30pm UAE)
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) v Gilles Muller (LUX x16)
Peng Shuai (CHN) v Simona Halep (ROM x2)
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) v Sam Querrey (USA x24)
Court 3 (2.30pm UAE)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18)
Carina Witthoeft (GER) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4)
Court 12 (2.30pm UAE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) v Ana Konjuh (CRO x27)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)
Court 18 (2.30pm UAE)
Caroline Garcia (FRA x21) v Madison Brengle (USA)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Jerzy Janowicz (POL)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
