Summer days in Hong Kong are closely intertwined with elements of the sea — swims in Repulse Bay, boat trips to Clear Water Bay, the Ng Tung Chai waterfall hike, and evening strolls by the Victoria Bay waterfront. The water radiates a magical spell — it stirs up memories, settles ponders, and evokes future aspirations. In Benjamin Franklin’s biography, he shared that his personal conducts were formed at sea. “I grew convicted that truth, sincerity, and integrity were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I formed written resolutions, to practice them while I lived. Perhaps the…
Macro Sales Team — FX & Rates Dynamics
In previous reflections on global market rotations, I received multiple messages from those interested in market dynamics. With just one year of experience, these retrospections provide a mirror of self-reflection, on changes in perspective and learnings cultivated through a moment in time. Indeed, these 3 months rotation in the Macro Sales Team blessed me with a deeper understanding of the FX & Rates landscape, technology transformations, client base, and interpersonal interactions from the dynamic and vibrant team.
FX & Rates Products
FX is a 24-hour market, with non-stop trading in hubs —…
Plum rains in June reminded me of a similar greeting five years ago, when I landed in Hong Kong — fresh out of high school and eager to explore. Dark and heavy clouds hung over the Victoria Bay, with raindrops showering like small bullets. The change in weather marks the start of the second half of 2021, also my fifth year in Hong Kong! The palette of 2Q21 was embellished with small ups and downs. Work was the main anchor; longer term goals kept me grounded, and I had more flexibility in exploring creative pursuits. …
Harvard Business School professor Laura Huang delves into how we turn adversity into advantage in the book, by identifying, creating, and championing our own edge. With a Taiwanese background and graduated with an engineering degree, these seemingly “minority” statuses (Culturally and professionally as a women in tech) in the US corporate and academic arena presented challenges for her as she navigated professional endeavors. The author presents her research and experience in 4 segments in the book: Enrich, Delight, Guide, and Effort. …
Growing up in Taiwan, I trained as a competitive swimmer since I was four. “The effort you put in is what you get.” Working ethics of perseverance, endurance, and discipline were ingrained into the rigorous swimming trainings, and I apply such beliefs in personal endeavors. I moved to Hong Kong for university studies and navigated the vastly different currents — pace, diversity, the previously unfamiliar language, social norms, and the culture.
We adapt when we move to another city and establish new life rituals. Yet, some values implanted in childhood never leave you — despite changes in environments and life…
Time flies — it has been 4 months since I started my rotation in the credit sales desk — an asset class previously unfamiliar. The characteristics of the credit market — illiquidity, less information transparency, institutional mandates (investments USD 200K minimum), Macro & Micro influences… shape its profile. This rotation gave me a glimpse of the dynamism of this asset class — the market drivers, investment strategies, investor types, team character, and the evolving credit market!
The Primary and Secondary Credit Market
The credit market — bonds issued by governments, sovereigns, quaisis, financial institutions, corporates build up a huge market…
In HKUST days, I used to write weekly reflection logs. In retrospection, I was surprised by the prolific writer inside me those days. I blogged about la vie quotidienne — mundane thoughts that refreshed after they were digested and put on paper. During those hectic days in HKUST, writing was a form of release– clearing the mind of clutter and emotional turbulence while setting agendas for the next week. After entering the work domain, I wrote less of these personal reflections, and I could come up with multiple “excuses” — changing priorities, less flexibility in schedule, and simply “not that…
Psychologist and Holocaust survivor Dr. Edith Eger was sent to Auschwitz at the age of sixteen. In this moving memoir, the author shares four stages of her life journey — Prison, Escape, Freedom, and Healing. “We always have that choice, that opportunity for control. I am here, this is now.”, says Dr. Edith Eger. Flashbacks from the concentration camp, forced separation with family, immigration to the US, and among many life challenges manifest the resilience of Dr. Edith’s spirit. Her vivid retrospections tell us that painful experiences aren’t a liability, but rather a gift of meaning that grant perspective, purpose…
“If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.” Chinese New Year might take place in foreign lands for nomads in the year of the ox, at a time when family and conviviality are most missed after prolonged periods of separation. Yet, the holidays bless us with a chance to reconnect with ourselves and friends in foreign land. The challenging circumstances can bring unprecedented moments of bliss. …
“What are your hopes of your own story? How you see yourself in 15 years, doing what and living where, with whom perhaps?” This was a powerful question that ended the last chapter of Charles Handy’s book “21 Letters on Life and its challenges”. As we step out of University, we start to craft our own blueprint — the trainings and education we need, the career path that we choose, family commitments, and personal pursuits. …
