Chapter 15: Not losing is winning!
The opening bell rang out with a dull thud, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, creating invisible ripples in the trading hall filled with numbers and anxiety.
Manager Zhou Yi glanced at the dazzling array of monitors in front of him, the one with the data scrolling wildly. This should have been the focus of his attention, the battlefield where he strategized and planned.
However, his gaze seemed to have its own will, uncontrollably drifting towards a certain figure in the corner time and time again.
"..."
Su Hao.
The name flashed through his mind, carrying with it a hint of indescribable scrutiny and curiosity.
To make it easier to observe, Zhou Yi even deliberately adjusted the angle of his workstation.
The strange thing is that ever since the opening bell rang throughout the entire floor, that newly promoted official trader named Su Hao has done almost nothing.
'This guy... he's just staring blankly at the screen?' Zhou Yi frowned slightly, and doubts began to creep into his mind like vines.
What investment secrets does Su Hao possess?
What kind of bizarre and unpredictable methods did he use to create such astonishingly high returns on the demo account?
More importantly, can that method really work in the ever-changing and brutal real-world combat where money is the only stake?
Can it withstand the relentless onslaught of the market?
"..."
With intense curiosity and scrutiny, Zhou Yi's gaze, like a searchlight, was almost penetrating and unblinkingly fixed on Su Hao's profile.
However, time passed second by second.
The person remained motionless, like a silent statue, completely out of place in the noisy and tense atmosphere around them.
Really, nothing was done.
***
At the same time, Su Hao was actually inwardly groaning.
"Holy crap, what is all this stuff...?"
The number of monitors in front of us has increased dramatically from one when we had the analog disc to a full six!
On the six screens, densely packed numbers and colorful curves twisted and intertwined like living things, forming a dazzling torrent of data.
It felt even more chaotic and dizzying than when he had done simulated investing before.
He needs to precisely pick out the "right" option from this vast sea of stock codes.
But how easy is that? It's like finding a needle in a haystack.
'That's strange...' He habitually rubbed his chin, a strange, stagnant feeling making his heart sink slightly.
"Last time, as soon as I started browsing these stocks, that... that'snap' feeling, it just came over me almost instantly, like I'd gained supernatural insight."
But this time, it's completely different.
There was no movement.
As you scroll the mouse wheel with your fingertip, the stock list on the screen scrolls rapidly, like a fleeting moment.
But that premonition, that sudden flash of inspiration, never came. There was no sign whatsoever.
Time slipped away quietly in his aimless daze, like sand slipping through his fingers, impossible to hold onto.
By the time he came to his senses, the digital clock on the wall had mercilessly jumped to noon.
" Su Hao... how's it going on your end?"
A voice, sounding tired and frustrated, came from behind.
Su Hao turned his head and saw Li Huilin, who was usually full of energy, but now looked ashen, as if he had just suffered a defeat, and walked slowly toward his desk.
" Sister Huilin? Is it alright for you to leave your seat?" Su Hao was somewhat surprised. During trading hours, traders are usually strictly prohibited from leaving their posts without permission.
"Sigh, don't even mention it..." Li Huilin sighed softly, her voice full of frustration, like a deflated balloon.
"I lost 2% today... just this morning, and the risk control department forcibly stopped my trading."
"Huh?" Su Hao was taken aback: "Only a 2% loss... and you immediately stopped trading?" This number doesn't seem to be particularly huge.
"That's right! 2% is a pretty big number for our company."
Li Huilin gave a wry smile, her tone tinged with self-deprecation:
" Those 'eagle eyes' in the Risk Management Department monitor the profit and loss of each of our traders' accounts in real time. Newcomers like us with limited experience are said to be in trouble if we lose 2%, and our trading privileges will be suspended. Only the most experienced veterans get a slightly more lenient treatment, with a 5% loss limit that can be tolerated."
She paused, as if recalling something, her gaze drifting into the distance: "Didn't Buffett say that the first rule is to never lose money? The second rule is to never forget the first rule? This is practically an ironclad rule hanging over our company, and we have to emphasize it repeatedly in every meeting."
That's true.
Almost every time Zhou Yi holds a meeting, he breaks down the four words "risk management" into their entirety and emphasizes them repeatedly.
After all, they weren't dealing with their own money, but the company's funds!
To laymen, it's laughable: You guys who do ultra-short-term trading, what kind of risk management are you talking about?
But rules are rules.
Here, even the most aggressive short-term trading must be conducted within the permitted, minimum risk exposure.
This is a dance...with shackles.
Once someone tries to break free of these shackles and cross that red line...
Then, the omnipresent " Risk Management Department," those hidden monitors behind the scenes, will mercilessly wield the hammer called "sanctions."
The entire system is precise and ruthless.
"Sigh…" Li Huilin suddenly let out a long sigh:
"I can talk a good game about strategy in theory, but when it comes to real-world trading, I still lose a lot of money and even have my trading license suspended… Am I useless, Su Hao? I've been so careful and focused on risk management, but it still turns out like this…"
"No, Sister Huilin," Su Hao quickly reassured her, her tone sincere. "No one can be perfect on the first day. It was a mistake today, but we can definitely make up for it tomorrow."
"Thank you, Su Hao." Li Huilin forced a smile, then looked curiously at his screen: "By the way, how about you? How were your earnings today?"
"Ah, I…" Su Hao subconsciously wanted to answer, but was speechless for a moment.
Li Huilin's gaze fell on his empty trading window, which had no open positions. He blinked his clear eyes, seemingly in disbelief.
"Wait a minute… Su Hao," she leaned closer, her voice tinged with surprise, "You… you haven't made a single transaction since the market opened, have you?"
"Uh…" Su Hao felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and subconsciously raised his hand to scratch the back of his head: "…Yes."
However, to his surprise, Li Huilin's reaction was not one of mockery or confusion, but rather as if he had witnessed something extraordinary.
"Wow!" Her eyes lit up suddenly, her tone filled with amazement, and her face instantly showed shock and...admiration?
" Su Hao! You really are a master!"
"...Huh?" Now it was Su Hao's turn to be completely dumbfounded. What...what's going on?
"You must have realized a while ago that the market was going to fall, right?!"
Li Huilin looked at him with an "I understand" expression, gazing at him with admiration, and explained to herself:
"I've heard those veterans say that in a bear market like this, the truly skilled people do nothing! They remain 'immovable as a mountain,' and not losing money is winning!"
"..."
Su Hao opened his mouth, only to find that things seemed to be... developing in a direction he had never expected. How could this be salvaged?
But in any case, sitting there like this isn't a solution.
The problem is that the "feeling" that sustains us has vanished without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea.
This was the first time he had experienced this since gaining his abilities, which made him feel a little uneasy and start to wonder if something had gone wrong.
I feel like I've overlooked something crucial. A strong sense of unease lingers.
"Intuition is certainly important," Li Huilin nodded, then, as if remembering something, suggested…
"However, when things are still unclear, it's worth taking another look at the research report we presented at this morning's meeting."
"Research report?"
"Yes, that's right. Didn't I mention it to you before? In the stock market, trending topics are very important."
It's important to clearly understand the current mainstream trends and hot topics in the market.
Our company's research department, comprised of what can only be described as'super elites,' has already compiled this information into a report for us.
If you thoroughly understand those materials, even if you're not guaranteed to make money, you'll at least grasp the general direction, which is equivalent to being more than halfway to success.
Her reminder jolted Su Hao awake.
yes!
Today, he was suddenly promoted to a full-fledged trader, and his mind was completely occupied by this matter throughout the morning meeting.
Nervousness, excitement, and a touch of fear were all mixed together, so he barely heard a word of what Zhou Yi said at the meeting!
Which sectors should we focus on in the market today?
Which areas pose potential risks that need to be avoided?
He completely missed this crucial information!
He was like a soldier who was unarmed and hadn't even glanced at a map, thrown haphazardly into a brutal battlefield filled with gunfire.
"Phew..." Li Huilin let out a long sigh, as if she had released some of the frustration in her heart.
.
"Alright, I've vented enough. I should head back now. Sigh, I hope I don't mess things up on my first day as a full-fledged trader and get demoted back to assistant?" she said half-jokingly.
"Of course not. Everyone has a beginning." Su Hao comforted her again.
"Anyway, I'm heading back now." Li Huilin waved her hand. "I need to thoroughly review today's trades and reflect on where I went wrong... Even though I lost money, Su Hao, you absolutely have to make money today! No, even just breaking even is fine! Good luck!"
"Okay! Keep it up!"
Watching Li Huilin's lonely figure disappear behind the partition, Su Hao immediately turned his attention back, pulled up this morning's newspaper, and began to read it carefully.
International oil prices fell... dragging down the US stock market... expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut and declining real interest rates... China's stock market also performed weakly... foreign capital continued to flow out...
The information in the morning paper was concise and cold.
Manager Zhou Yi seemed to have mentioned at the meeting... In this kind of market situation, instead of going against the trend and stubbornly holding on, it's better to take advantage of the downtrend and profit by shorting...
Su Hao recalled a few keywords that he gleaned from the morning meeting.
But... how exactly do you short sell?
He knew very little about the concept.
According to Li Huilin, when shorting, in order to control risk, it is also necessary to buy specific stocks for "hedging" to reduce potential losses...
To handle something so complicated, requiring calculations of proportions and selection of hedging targets...
My knowledge base is simply not enough.
Risk management, short selling, hedging... these terms are like gibberish to him, who is currently a complete novice in the stock market in terms of professional knowledge, and are full of unknown risks.
What if a mistake is made in any step and the company loses all its money?
'Forget it, I'll just do what I do best.'
He has always relied on only one person.
That is, trust your intuition—it's as elusive and unpredictable as lightning, yet it never fails!
After quickly browsing the morning paper, Su Hao minimized it.
Then, he took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the densely packed list of stocks.
'Huh?'
Almost the instant his fingertip brushed over the first stock code—
"Sizzle!"
A familiar feeling, like a faint electric current running through me, suddenly surfaced!
It traveled along his nerve endings and instantly reached his cerebral cortex! That throbbing sensation... it was back!
'Nothing worked for me before, but now...'
Could it be because I just read the morning paper?
This is far too much of a coincidence. It's almost unbelievable!
But upon closer reflection, it seems that... every time he conducted simulated investments before, he would first carefully read the relevant market analysis and data reports before that special "feeling" would follow.
Furthermore, the stocks that ultimately gave him a strong intuition and led to successful profits all seemed to be inextricably linked to the materials he had read at the time.
'Obtaining data and information in a specific field can spark intuition within that relevant scope... I see.'
Today, he learned another lesson.
'Then, let's buy in first... wait!'
Just as he was about to place the order, another principle that Zhou Yi and Li Huilin had repeatedly emphasized came to his mind:
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Diversify your investments!
Yes, diversify your investments! This is also a crucial part of risk management!
Only in this way can we avoid the devastating impact of a single failed investment and ensure the stability of overall returns through hedging different investment portfolios.
Even if one is lost, the others can make up for it.
'Diversify...diversify...' Su Hao muttered to himself. 'But how diversified?'
He pondered for a moment, his fingers hesitating on the keyboard.
'Hmm... dividing it into three, that should... be about right, right?'