"The female trader is more judicious," Anna Bodrova, individual trader

This time the guest of ForTrader.org magazine Anna Bodrova, individual trader. We invited Anna to talk about an important question, which is gaining more and more popularity due to the active popularization of Forex in Russia and abroad: about women - traders and their role in the financial markets.

- Hello, Anna. Then traditionally, how did you first learn about the foreign exchange market?
- Hello. My first acquaintance was very simple: when I was in my fifth year at university I came to work at an investment company, at first I worked on the Russian stock market, later I moved to the world markets department, where I started to get acquainted with om. The acquaintance proved to be promising.

- Many people say that the foreign exchange market is strongly

Do you personally prefer to evaluate the state of the market: financial news, reports and speeches or indicator readings?
- Ideally there should be an analysis based on a combination of factors, but that's ideal. Since the foreign exchange market is easier to change trends, I mostly track financial events and macroeconomic indicators. Technical indicators are necessary when you need a long-term forecast, I believe. But even there, one has to keep in mind that Bernanke's wrong phrase can bring down a currency pair.

- What do you think drives the foreign exchange market to a greater extent?
- Speculative interventions of central banks and speculative positions of hedge funds.

- That is, you agree with the opinion of some experts who say that speculative operations prevail in the market?
- Of course. Because the current structure of the global financial system, where there are no clear exchange rates and no peg to gold parity, makes the movement of exchange rates extremely volatile.

- What do you think of the possibility of creating a single, global currency? Is it possible?
- The very idea of creating a supranational currency was proposed by the Russian president, and we have heard echoes of it in China. But the essence of this idea from the point of view of finance is unrealistic, because it has many pitfalls. In addition, the international community is frankly not ready for such innovation. What will happen, I will not guess, but now we can say with confidence, the dollar is losing its status as the world currency. reserve currencyand nothing has come to replace it. On the other hand, China's global influence will grow in the next decade, and with it the role of the yuan.

- Let's move away from economics for a while and talk about women in trading... We are usually always treated with skepticism, just like on the roads. Do you think this attitude is justified?
- I'm sure it's unjustified. I will explain why.
A woman is by nature a little more sensible and cautious than a man. Agree that this is often lacking in traders. On the other hand, a man is more inclined to comprehensive analysis. But these are all common traits, and naturally every man is different. If in female traders really no one believed, would not, for example, Alfa Bank to develop a special interface for women.

- What do you think about the psychology of trading? Is it harder or easier for women to cope with responsibility and various emotions in trading?
- It is easier for a woman to accept failure and try again, I think. And in general, the female traders I know are distinguished by serious endurance, but here it is more by virtue of character.

- You noted the strength of character of women traders, do you think this toughness was instilled by the market or was it because the market became subservient?
- This firmness was there from the beginning, every woman has it in one way or another, and the market, of course, added something of its own.

- Some male traders believe that women are hindered from trading by the thought of what fur coat they will buy with the money they earn, so with that approach the job is more like a casino. How would you comment on such an opinion?
- Fur coat - it's great, than not a rational investment of profits? 🙂 It seems to me that the thought of what to spend the profit, on the contrary, spurs thoughtful and careful deals, so as not to make mistakes and not to lose the necessary for the fur coat profit.

- Do you remember what you spent your first profit on?
- I haven't had a solid one yet, but I'm working on it, because you can't go anywhere without a fur coat in winter 🙂
But seriously, in order to get a good profit in the end, the current one should be reinvested. At least, that's what the financial gurus advise.

- The hardness of character and the need to constantly monitor the state of the world economy undoubtedly affects the personal life of a female trader as well. Has something similar happened to you?
- Fortunately, no. My husband and I work in the same field, and in some ways this is even convenient - there is always someone to advise and ask for advice.

- Traders often have the question, is it really convenient to work in a team? Are you and your spouse a clear confirmation of the positive answer to this question? Doesn't the opposite of family intimacy interfere with the common cause?
- I hope that our pair is a direct confirmation of the fact that it is more convenient to work in tandem, especially when the sphere of activity and tasks coincide. For example, I get lost in the functional part of some programs; when, for example, I need to analyze this or that chart, the other half comes to help. When someone from the monetary politicians makes a statement, it is very convenient to discuss the results together - everyone has different conclusions, we argue a little and come to a consensus.

- Are you planning to tie your life to om? Or is there a possibility that there will be a new, more interesting profession for you?
- Leaving an investment firm where I worked for 3 years in world markets and аI promised myself and my colleagues that I would never return to this sphere of activity again. Life was wiser than me, and in a year I'm working with currency trading floors again. I have an interesting profession, now I'm trying to successfully combine work, family and continuing education - I'm writing my master's thesis based on economic and political publications. Maybe it will become an evidence base for my doctoral thesis, who knows.

- If the topic of your dissertation was economic and political publications, surely I would not be wrong in saying that your favorite method of forecasting is fundamental?
- Exactly. After all, the current foreign exchange market has a strong speculative component, which is difficult to foresee in a technical or wave analysis.

- Do you think that the commitment of the FA is largely dictated by the environment? Is your transition to the technical component of the market possible if the rhythm of work changes?
- The peculiarity of the fundamental analysis for me personally is that it allows me to restructure my forecasts and expectations in accordance with the statements of figures and market forecasts. The figures for me are difficult, tedious and incomprehensible. But again, I repeat, a complete picture of the market requires a combination of all types of analysis. That's why I read the technical view of other specialists.

- And what do you think, in general, for women, are there any favorite approaches to market forecasting?
- I think that adherence to one or another type of analysis does not depend on a trader's gender, but rather on a trait's temperament. Some people are calmer and more confident with numbers, some feel more confident with facts.

- Do you consider it a game or a job? Or is there no difference?
- It's a job, and just as serious as any other. Of course, you can't compare it to working in an ambulance with the intensity of events, but there is money in the account, and you don't really want to lose it. The game becomes for those who have come to get their share of adrenaline, looking at the jumping quotes. This is hardly constructive.

- What do you like most about e?
- Movement. That's what I really appreciate.

- What's not to like?
- The answer is a bit frivolous: since he works around the clock, there is very little free time.

- What advice would you give to women who are just starting to look into , but are afraid that it is a difficult and not a woman's job?
- Above all, don't be afraid of anything! Remember that it is not a shame to ask - it is a shame not to know. So ask questions, get answers and ask again, take an interest, accumulate knowledge and gradually begin to implement them. For "trying out your pen" there are demo accountwhere everything is real except for the money. It is perfect for getting your impression of the foreign exchange market and your desire to devote your time to it.