Minimalism is a lifestyle and philosophy that emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and mindfulness in all aspects of life.
It is a rejection of the materialistic, consumerist culture that is prevalent in many Western societies, and instead emphasizes the importance of living with intention and purpose.
In this blog post, I will cover all the benefits of this life philosophy, practical ways you can apply it in your life, and how it ties in with your spiritual development.
Table of Contents
Origins of Minimalism
The origins of minimalism can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when a group of artists and writers began to reject the traditional, ornate styles that were popular at the time.
These artists and writers, who included figures such as Donald Judd and Sol LeWitt, instead embraced simplicity and purity of form in their work.
This led to the development of the minimalist movement, which sought to strip away the excesses of modern life and focus on what was truly essential.
Over time, the minimalist philosophy has spread beyond the realm of art and has become a popular lifestyle choice for many people.
Today, minimalism is embraced by people from all walks of life, who are drawn to its emphasis on simplicity, mindfulness, and intentionality.
Benefits of Minimalism
There are many benefits to adopting a minimalist lifestyle.
One of the biggest benefits is the feeling of freedom and liberation that comes from decluttering and simplifying your life.
By getting rid of excess possessions and obligations, you can free yourself from the burden of constant maintenance and upkeep.
This can provide a sense of relief and liberation, and can allow you to focus on what is truly important to you.
In addition to the psychological benefits of minimalism, there are also practical benefits.
For example, living a minimalist lifestyle can save you time and money.
By getting rid of excess possessions, you can reduce the amount of time and energy you spend on cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your belongings.
This can save you time and effort, and can allow you to spend your time and money on things that are truly meaningful to you.
Another benefit of minimalism is that it can help you to live a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
By reducing your consumption and waste, you can reduce your impact on the environment and help to preserve natural resources for future generations.
This can be especially important in a world that is facing increasingly urgent environmental challenges.
How to Apply Minimalism in Your Life
If you are interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle, there are many practical ways to do so. Here are some tips for applying minimalism in your life:
Declutter your home: One of the first steps to adopting a minimalist lifestyle is to declutter your home and get rid of excess possessions that you no longer need or use. Start by going through each room in your home and getting rid of anything that you no longer need or use. This can include clothing, furniture, appliances, and other household items.
Minimize your consumption: Another important step is to minimize your consumption and only purchase what you truly need and will use. This can involve making a shopping list and sticking to it, avoiding impulse purchases, and being selective about the products that you buy.
Be mindful of the things that you already own: In addition to minimizing your consumption, it is also important to be mindful of the things that you already own. This means taking good care of your possessions and making sure that they last as long as possible. This can involve regular maintenance and repair, as well as being selective about the products that you use to clean and care for your belongings.
Prioritize experiences over possessions: A key principle of minimalism is the idea that experiences are more important than possessions. Instead of focusing on acquiring more and more things, try to prioritize experiences that will enrich your life and provide lasting memories. This can include things like traveling, learning new skills, or spending time with loved ones.
Simplify your daily routine: Another way to apply minimalism in your life is to simplify your daily routine. This can involve reducing the number of tasks and obligations that you have, and focusing on the things that are truly important to you. For example, you might prioritize spending time with loved ones, pursuing your hobbies and passions, or taking care of your health and wellbeing. By simplifying your daily routine, you can free up more time and energy for the things that matter most to you.
Be mindful of your digital life: In today’s digital age, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of information and distractions that are available online. To apply minimalism in your digital life, try to limit the amount of time that you spend on your devices, and be selective about the content that you consume. This can help to reduce the noise and distractions in your life, and can allow you to focus on the things that are truly important to you.
Cultivate gratitude: Another important aspect of minimalism is the practice of gratitude. By cultivating gratitude, you can shift your focus away from the things that you lack, and instead appreciate the things that you already have. This can help to reduce feelings of dissatisfaction and discontent, and can help you to feel more content and satisfied with your life.
Minimalism & Spirituality
Minimalism and spirituality are two different, but related, concepts.
Minimalism is a lifestyle and philosophy that emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and mindfulness in all aspects of life.
It is a rejection of the materialistic, consumerist culture that is prevalent in many Western societies, and instead emphasizes the importance of living with intention and purpose.
On the other hand, spirituality is a broad term that refers to the human search for meaning and connection with a higher power or the transcendent.
Spirituality can be expressed in many different ways, including through religious practices, meditation, and other forms of inner exploration.
Despite their differences, minimalism and spirituality are related in several key ways.
First, both minimalism and spirituality emphasize the importance of simplicity and mindfulness.
By focusing on the present moment and letting go of distractions and distractions, both minimalism and spirituality can help us to live more fully and authentically.
Second, both minimalism and spirituality encourage us to let go of excess possessions and attachments.
By getting rid of the things that we don’t need or use, we can free ourselves from the burden of constant maintenance and upkeep.
This can provide a sense of relief and liberation, and can allow us to focus on what is truly important to us.
Finally, both minimalism and spirituality can help us to connect with something greater than ourselves.
For some people, this might be a higher power or the transcendent.
For others, it might be a sense of connection with the natural world, or with a community of like-minded individuals.
In either case, minimalism and spirituality can both provide a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, minimalism is a lifestyle and philosophy that emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and mindfulness in all aspects of life.
It can provide many benefits, including a feeling of freedom and liberation, practical savings of time and money, and a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
By decluttering your home, minimizing your consumption, and being mindful of the things that you already own, you can begin to apply the principles of minimalism in your own life.
Now that I have shared what minimalism is about, and the practical ways you can apply it in your life, do you think this is a life philosophy which you will want to adopt?
For those already embracing this philosophy, what are some other ways which you have applied minimalism in your life?
https://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Thumbnail-What-is-Minimalism.png7201280Spencer Lihttps://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo.jpgSpencer Li2022-12-15 19:46:522023-01-10 01:52:09What is Minimalism? (7 Practical Ways to Apply it in Your Life!)
He is a strong advocate for the importance of managing one’s emotions and developing a disciplined approach to trading.
In his book “Trading for a Living,” Elder emphasizes the importance of having a clear set of rules and sticking to them, as well as the need to manage risk and protect capital.
He also discusses the psychological pitfalls that traders can fall into, such as overconfidence and fear, and offers practical advice for overcoming these challenges.
This was one of the first few books I read when I started my trading journey, and it is a very good overview of everything you need to know to become a complete trader.
In this blog post, I will give a detailed summary of the book, and pull out the key learning points and strategies that Dr Elder has shared in the book.
Table of Contents
About Dr. Alexander Elder
Before diving into the book, it is important to understand the author’s background, and why he has such a deep understanding of trading psychology.
Dr. Alexander Elder is a psychiatrist and trader who is known for his work on trading psychology and technical analysis.
Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, Elder grew up in a family of scientists and engineers.
He studied medicine at the First Leningrad Medical Institute and later worked as a ship’s doctor in the Soviet merchant marine.
In 1977, Elder immigrated to the United States, where he completed his medical training and worked as a psychiatrist.
However, he also had a passion for the stock market, and he began trading and studying technical analysis in his spare time.
In the late 1980s, Elder began writing and teaching about trading, and he quickly gained a reputation as a leading expert on the psychological aspects of trading.
In 1995, he published his first book, “Trading for a Living”, which became a bestseller and established him as a leading authority on trading psychology.
He has written several other books on trading, including “Come into My Trading Room,” which are considered classics in the field.
Elder also runs a trading school and offers courses and workshops on trading.
Overview of “Trading for a Living” Book
“Trading for a Living” is the flagship book written by Alexander Elder, which was first published in 1993 and has since become a classic in the field of trading.
In the book, Elder discusses his experiences as a trader and offers advice and strategies for how to successfully trade the financial markets.
He covers a range of topics, including risk management, trading psychology, and technical analysis, and provides practical advice for how to develop a successful trading plan.
The book is aimed at both novice and experienced traders, and Elder emphasizes the importance of discipline, patience, and self-awareness in achieving success in the markets.
He also offers guidance on how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes that can undermine a trader’s performance.
The book also includes practical advice and real-life examples that can help traders develop a consistent and successful approach to the markets.
The 3 M’s of Trading
One of the key concept mentioned in the book is the importance of the 3 M’s of trading.
The 3 M’s of trading refer to three key factors that can affect the success of a trade. These factors are:
Markets: A trader must have a thorough understanding of the market they are trading in, including its trends, key players, and regulatory environment. This knowledge allows the trader to make informed decisions and anticipate potential market movements.
Methodology: A trader must have a clear and well-defined trading strategy, including entry and exit points, risk management techniques, and position sizing. This ensures that the trader is able to implement their strategy consistently and effectively.
Mindset: A trader’s mindset is crucial to their success. A trader must be disciplined and focused, able to handle the emotional ups and downs of the market without letting them affect their decision-making. They must also be willing to continuously learn and adapt in order to stay ahead of the competition.
These 3 M’s are interdependent, and a trader must focus on all three in order to achieve success in the markets.
A trader who understands the market and has a solid trading methodology may still fail if they lack the discipline and focus to implement their strategy effectively.
Similarly, a trader with a great mindset may struggle if they do not have a deep understanding of the market or a well-defined trading plan.
The 3 M’s of trading are crucial for any trader who wants to succeed in the markets.
By focusing on markets, methodology, and mindset, traders can increase their chances of making profitable trades and achieving their financial goals.
Triple Screen System
Another popular tool created by Dr. Alexander Elder is the triple screen system, which he covered in the book.
The system is based on the idea that markets move in three distinct phases: the trend, the sideways range, and the impulse.
The first step in the triple screen system is to identify the dominant time frame for the market you are trading.
This is typically the weekly chart for long-term traders, the daily chart for intermediate-term traders, and the hourly or minute chart for short-term traders.
This dominant time frame is referred to as the “screen” in the triple screen system.
Once the dominant time frame has been identified, the trader then looks at the other two time frames to see if they are in alignment with the dominant time frame.
For example, if the dominant time frame is the daily chart and it is showing an uptrend, the trader would look at the hourly and minute charts to see if they are also showing an uptrend.
If the other time frames are in alignment with the dominant time frame, the trader can enter a trade in the direction of the dominant trend.
The triple screen system also includes a number of other elements, such as the use of oscillators to identify overbought and oversold conditions and the use of moving averages to identify support and resistance levels.
However, the core of the system is the use of multiple time frames to identify the dominant trend and to confirm trades.
Overall, the triple screen trading system is a powerful approach to technical analysis that can help traders identify and confirm trade setups.
By using multiple time frames to identify the dominant trend, traders can improve their chances of success and increase their profitability.
Trading Psychology
Another key theme of the book is the role of psychology in trading.
Trading psychology refers to the study of the psychological factors that influence the behavior of traders and investors.
This includes factors such as emotions, attitudes, beliefs, and cognitive biases, as well as the psychological effects of the market environment and the individual trader’s personal circumstances.
One of the key challenges of trading psychology is the need to manage emotions effectively.
Emotions such as fear, greed, and hope can have a powerful impact on a trader’s decision-making and can lead to impulsive and irrational behavior.
For example, fear of losing money can cause a trader to exit a trade prematurely, while greed can cause a trader to hold onto a losing trade for too long.
Another challenge of trading psychology is the need to overcome cognitive biases, which are systematic errors in thinking that can lead to poor decision-making.
For example, the confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that supports one’s existing beliefs, while the overconfidence bias is the tendency to overestimate one’s own ability or knowledge.
Dr. Elder argues that success in trading depends not only on technical knowledge and skills, but also on a trader’s mental and emotional state.
He provides a number of practical tools and techniques that traders can use to develop a healthy and disciplined approach to trading, including the use of daily self-assessment and journaling.
Other useful ways to improve trading psychology include developing a well-defined trading plan, using risk management techniques to protect against losses, and practicing mindfulness and meditation to improve emotional control.
Trading psychology is an important aspect of successful trading, and traders who are able to manage their emotions and overcome cognitive biases are likely to be more successful in the market.
By understanding and addressing the psychological challenges of trading, traders can improve their decision-making and increase their profitability.
Additional Trading Tips & Strategies
Here are some general tips and strategies mentioned in the book:
Develop a trading plan that outlines your goals, risk management strategies, and entry and exit rules for each trade.
Keep a trading journal to track your performance and identify areas for improvement.
Use technical analysis to identify potential trading opportunities and set stop-loss orders to limit your potential losses.
Don’t let emotions, such as fear and greed, influence your trading decisions.
Be patient and disciplined, and only take trades that have a high probability of success.
Manage your risk by limiting the amount of capital you expose to the markets on any given trade.
Continuously educate yourself and stay up-to-date on market developments and trends.
Don’t expect to get rich quick from trading; success takes time and hard work.
Don’t be afraid to take a break from trading if you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Always have a long-term perspective and focus on developing your skills and knowledge as a trader.
Concluding Thoughts
“Trading for a Living” by Alexander Elder is an excellent book for beginners, because it is comprehensive in its coverage, and includes a clear and practical approach to tackling the markets.
In addition, the focus on psychology is a refreshing approach, especially coming from a professional psychologist, because this is one topic which is commonly overlooked in most other books.
Now that I have shared all the key lessons from this book, would you consider reading it?
And if you have already read it, what are some of your key take-aways from the book?
https://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/thumbnail-trading-for-a-living.png7201280Spencer Lihttps://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo.jpgSpencer Li2022-12-13 20:42:112023-02-01 18:49:28Book Summary: Trading for a Living by Dr Alexander Elder (Psychologist)
Last week, we anticipated that there would not be much action in the markets since the big news (CPI, FOMC) would only be happening this week.
That turned out to be true.
We also indicated that the best trading opportunities for last week were: Gold, Bonds (TLT), and possible USD rebound.
That turned out to be true as well, allowing us to make some quick profits.
We also found some excellent forex trades along the way, to add to the profit pile.
This week, we are expecting more exciting opportunities, and possibly a clearer trend direction, which will allow us to take larger trading positions for the medium/long-term.
Come join us in the “Daily Trading Signals” private Telegram channel for real-time signals and trading opportunities!
This is the final monthly employment report before the Fed’s two-day meeting on Dec. 13 and 14, in which the central bank is expected to raise its fed funds target rate by a half percentage point. A 50 basis point increase would mark a slowing from the prior 75 basis point rate hikes set by the central bank.
https://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-09-17-16.03.35-scaled.jpg19202560Spencer Lihttps://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo.jpgSpencer Li2022-12-09 01:28:352022-12-11 18:51:35Weekly Market Wrap: All Eyes on CPI & FOMC Next Week!
Here are some photos from the trip, with brief intro snippets from Wikipedia:
Table of Contents
1. Desert Safari, Dubai, UAE
Dubai has a major tourist attraction called the Desert Safari where tourists get to enjoy the amazing sand dunes, cultural performances and BBQ Dinner. While there are a few different variations in this excursion, the most common one involves getting picked up in a 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser late in the afternoon and then driving 50kms away from the city to enjoy the serene and untouched sand dunes of Dubai.
The driver is a trained professional who maneuvers the 4×4 up and down the dunes, performing daring stunts for the passengers sitting inside. Afterwards the driver takes a quick break at a sunset viewing point and later the passengers are taken to a camp site where they get to enjoy a few performances and eat delicious BBQ dinner among other things.
Bishkek is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is also the administrative centre of the Chüy Region. The region surrounds the city, although the city itself is not part of the region but rather a region-level unit of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is situated near the Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan border. Its population was 1,074,075 in 2021.
The Burana Tower is a large minaret in the Chüy Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. It is located about 80 km east of the country’s capital Bishkek, near the town of Tokmok. The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. The tower was built in the 11th century and was used as a template for other minarets. It is one of the oldest architectural constructions in Central Asia.
Chong-Kemin Nature Park is a park in Kemin District of Chüy Region of Kyrgyzstan established in August 1997. The purpose of the park is conservation of the unique nature complexes in Chong-Kemin Valley of the Kemin District and organization of recreation for local and foreign tourists. The area of the park is 123,564 hectares. The park is located in 30 km from the regional center Kemin and in 135 km from Bishkek.
This national park is one of the most picturesque parts of Kyrgyzstan. The 116 km long river Chong-Kemin flows through the park, and there are seven lakes in its basin.
The ecosystem is diverse and is home to rare species, such as the snow leopard, golden eagle and maral (the smallest cervid in Central Asia).
Kochkor is a large village in northern Naryn Region of Kyrgyzstan, at an altitude of 1,800 m. Its population was 11,373 in 2021. It is on the main A365 highway from Torugart Pass (China) north to Bishkek, and about 45 km northeast along the highway is Balykchy on Lake Issyk-Kul.
Issyk-Kul is an endorheic lake (without outflow) in the Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the seventh-deepest lake in the world, the tenth-largest lake in the world by volume and the second-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” in the Kyrgyz language; although it is located at a lofty elevation of 1,607 metres and subject to severe cold during winter, it never freezes.
Karakol is the fourth-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, near the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul, about 150km from the Kyrgyzstan–China border and 380km from the capital Bishkek. It is the administrative capital of Issyk-Kul Region.
Song-Köl (literally “following lake”) is an alpine lake in northern Naryn Region, Kyrgyzstan. It lies at an altitude of 3016 m, and has an area of about 270 km2 and volume of 2.64 km3. The lake’s maximum length is 29 km, breadth about 18 km, and the deepest point is 13.2 m. It is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan after Issyk-Kul, and the largest fresh water lake in Kyrgyzstan.
Jeti-Ögüz (seven bulls) is a district of Issyk-Kul Region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. Its seat lies at Kyzyl-Suu. Its area is 14,499 square kilometres, and its resident population was 93,392 in 2021. It comprises much of the eastern end of the Terskey Ala-Too Range.
Kolsay Lakes National Park is located on the north slope of the Tian Shan Mountains, southeast Kazakhstan (10km from the border with Kyrgyzstan). Often referred to as “Pearls of Tien Shan”, the park’s main feature are the Kolsay Lakes located between the Raiymbek District and Talgar District of Almaty Region. The scenic Lake Kaindy is also within the park. The park boundary is 120km southeast of Almaty. Lakes of landslide-tectonic origin, approximately formed in 1887 and 1911 on the Kaindy and Kolsay rivers.
Charyn Canyon (also known as Sharyn Canyon) is a canyon on the Sharyn River in Kazakhstan (200km east of Almaty, close to the Chinese border). The canyon is roughly 154km in length, and is part of the Charyn National Park (established on 23 February 2004). Over time, the canyon has gained colorful formations of varying shapes and sizes. Though it is much smaller than the Grand Canyon, it has been described as being equally impressive.
Charyn Canyon is a unique natural object with peculiar relief forms in the form of chapels, towers, animals, etc., which were formed by the weathering of sedimentary rock.
Almaty, formerly known as Alma-Ata, is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of about 2 million. It was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to 1936 as an autonomous republic as part of the Soviet Union, then from 1936 to 1991 as a union republic and finally from 1991 as an independent state to 1997 when the government relocated the capital to Akmola.
Almaty is still the major commercial, financial, and cultural centre of Kazakhstan, as well as its most populous and most cosmopolitan city.
Dushanbe (literally ’Monday’) is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. As of January 2020, Dushanbe had a population of 863,400 and that population was largely Tajik. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian as Dyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 as Stalinabad, after Joseph Stalin.
In ancient times, what is now or is close to modern Dushanbe was settled by various empires and peoples, including Mousterian tool-users, various neolithic cultures, the Achaemenid Empire, Greco-Bactria, the Kushan Empire, and the Hephthalites. In the Middle Ages, more settlements began near modern-day Dushanbe such as Hulbuk and its famous palace.
Iskanderkul is a mountain lake of glacial origin in Tajikistan’s Sughd Province. It lies at an altitude of 2,195m on the northern slopes of the Gissar Range in the Fann Mountains.
The lake takes its name from Alexander the Great’s passage in Tajikistan: Iskander is the Persian pronunciation of Alexander, and kul means lake in many Turkic languages. There are two legends connecting the lake to Alexander. The first one states it used to be a location the inhabitants of which resisted Alexander’s rule, and in fury, the king ordered to divert a river and annihilate them. The second legend states that Bucephalus had drowned in the lake.
The Fann Mountains are part of the western Pamir-Alay mountain system in Tajikistan’s Sughd Province, between the Zarafshan Range to the north and the Gissar Range to the south. In an east-west direction, they extend from the Fan Darya to the Archimaydan River.
The Fanns boast about a hundred peaks, with several rising to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters and relative elevations of up to 1,500m. The highest point in Fann Mountains is Chimtarga peak (5,489 m).
Khujand is the second-largest city of Tajikistan and the capital of Tajikistan’s northernmost Sughd province.
Khujand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, dating back about 2,500 years to the Persian Empire. Situated on the Syr Darya river at the mouth of the Fergana Valley, Khujand was a major city along the ancient Silk Road. After being captured by Alexander the Great in 329 BC, it was renamed Alexandria Eschate and has since been part of various empires in history, including the Umayyad Caliphate (8th century), the Mongol Empire (13th century) and the Russian empire (19th century).
Tashkent, also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, as well as the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of 2,909,000 (2022). It is in northeastern Uzbekistan, near the border with Kazakhstan. Tashkent comes from the Turkic tash and kent, literally translated as “Stone City” or “City of Stones”.
Before Islamic influence started in the mid-8th century AD, Tashkent was influenced by the Sogdian and Turkic cultures. After Genghis Khan destroyed it in 1219, it was rebuilt and profited from the Silk Road. From the 18th to the 19th century, the city became an independent city-state, before being re-conquered by the Khanate of Kokand. In 1865, Tashkent fell to the Russian Empire; it became the capital of Russian Turkestan.
Samarkand is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan and among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. There is evidence of human activity in the area of the city from the late Paleolithic Era. Though there is no direct evidence of when Samarkand was founded, several theories propose that it was founded between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE.
Prospering from its location on the Silk Road between China and Europe, at times Samarkand was one of the largest cities of Central Asia.[3] Most of the inhabitants of this city are native Persian-speakers and speak the Tajik Persian dialect. This city is one of the historical centers of the Tajik people in Central Asia, which in the past was one of the important cities of the great empires of Iran.
The Aydar Lake (Lake Aydarkul) is part of the man-made Aydar-Arnasay system of lakes, which covers 4,000 square kilometres. This has 3 brackish water lakes (the two others being Arnasay and Tuzkan), deep basins of the south-eastern Kyzyl Kum (now in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan). The lakes are expansive reservoirs of Soviet planning.
Being brackish rather than saline they have high rates of evaporation, prompting a moist summer microclimate, often attracting rain clouds, which has led to the replenishment of the North Aral Sea.
Bukhara is the seventh-largest city in Uzbekistan, with a population of 280,187 as of 1 January 2020, and the capital of Bukhara Region. People have inhabited the region around Bukhara for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time. Located on the Silk Road, the city has long served as a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. The mother tongue of the majority of people of Bukhara is Tajik, a dialect of the Persian language, although Uzbek is spoken as a second language by most residents.
Bukhara served as the capital of the Samanid Empire, Khanate of Bukhara, and Emirate of Bukhara and was the birthplace of scholar Imam Bukhari.[4] The city has been known as “Noble Bukhara”. Bukhara has about 140 architectural monuments. UNESCO has listed the historic center of Bukhara (which contains numerous mosques and madrasas) as a World Heritage Site.
Khiva is a district-level city of approximately 93,000 people in Xorazm Region, Uzbekistan. According to archaeological data, the city was established around 1500 years ago. It is the former capital of Khwarezmia, the Khanate of Khiva, and the Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic.
Itchan Kala in Khiva was the first site in Uzbekistan to be inscribed in the World Heritage List (1991). The astronomer, historian and polymath, Al-Biruni[4] (973-1048 CE) was born in either Khiva or the nearby city of Kath.
Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey, serving as the country’s economic, cultural and historic hub. The city straddles the Bosporus strait, lying in both Europe and Asia, and has a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous European city, and the world’s 15th-largest city.
Over 13.4 million foreign visitors came to Istanbul in 2018, eight years after it was named a European Capital of Culture, making it the world’s eighth most visited city. Istanbul is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country’s economy.
Cappadocia or Capadocia, is a historical region in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It largely is in the provinces Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde.
According to Herodotus, in the time of the Ionian Revolt (499 BC), the Cappadocians were reported as occupying a region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.
The name, traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history, continues in use as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage.
Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey as well as the capital of Antalya Province. Located on Anatolia’s southwest coast bordered by the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is the largest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast outside the Aegean region with over one million people in its metropolitan area.
Antalya is Turkey’s biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera. Large-scale development and governmental funding has promoted tourism. A record 13.6 million tourists passed through the city in 2019.
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water. It is located in Turkey’s Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.
The ancient Greek city of Hierapolis was built on top of the travertine formation which is in total about 2,700 metres long, 600m wide and 160m high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away. This area has been drawing visitors to its thermal springs since the time of classical antiquity. The Turkish name refers to the surface of the shimmering, snow-white limestone, shaped over millennia by calcite-rich springs. Dripping slowly down the mountainside, mineral-rich waters collect in and cascade down the mineral terraces, into pools below.
It was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 along with Hierapolis.
Kuşadası is a large resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast, and the center of the seaside district of the same name within Aydın Province. Kuşadası is 95 km south of İzmir, and about 60 km from Aydın. The municipality’s primary industry is tourism.
The district of Kuşadası had a total residential population of 121,493 in 2020, though the actual population is thought to rise to well over half a million in the summer months due to a significant influx of both domestic and international tourists as well as those visiting family or returning to their summer residence.
Ephesus was a city in ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, 3 kilometres southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of Apasa, the former Arzawan capital, by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era, it was one of twelve cities that were members of the Ionian League. The city came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC.
The city was famous in its day for the nearby Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), which has been designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its many monumental buildings included the Library of Celsus and a theatre capable of holding 24,000 spectators.
Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a favourite international and local tourist attraction, being accessible from Adnan Menderes Airport and from the resort town Kuşadası. In 2015, the ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
https://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-09-30-07.06.11-scaled.jpg19202560Spencer Lihttps://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo.jpgSpencer Li2022-12-04 22:06:432023-01-27 17:16:39Trading & Travelling: Exploring 5 New Countries in Central Asia!
Last week, the Fed mentioned that they will be slowing down the interest rate hikes, and the market reacted positively to this news.
This was a bit different from what I was expecting, but the rule of trading is to go with the flow of the market and trade according, which means that if my positions are on the wrong side, I am ready to close them and switch sides.
As I mentioned in last week’s video, in such choppy markets, we should not be taking large positions, instead we should be saving most of our ammunition for when the trend becomes clear.
If the Fed decides to slow the rate hikes, this could hint that the market has already bottomed, but on the other hand, even keeping rates at current elevated levels for a year could trigger a recession, so which is the more likely outcome for the stock market?
I will be covering that in this week’s market outlook video, as well as the direction for all major asset classes.
NFP is this Friday, so all eyes on this data. Strong jobs might actually be bad for the market.
Unrest in China is another bearish factor for global markets.
Either stay flat, or take small short positions.
Portfolio Highlights
Weekly Portfolio Updates (27 November 2022)
Added more US T-bills to my portfolio, since the markets are quite flat, and yields are above 4.5%.
Forex & Commodities Market Highlights
Following up on the EURCAD, if there is follow-through on today’s strong white bar, there is a good chance of prices continuing higher.
AUDJPY Crossing 91.797
Euro vs Japanese Yen
Break swing low
EURAUD Crossing 1.55769
Break swing highs!
Stock & Bond Market Highlights
The NASDAQ 100 (US100) still hovering at resistance, but get ready to short once it breaks the red level.
Finally the action is starting on the NASDAQ 100 (US100), after breaking back into the range.
Added on more short positions, but still not going all-in yet because of NFP this Friday.
This is the final monthly employment report before the Fed’s two-day meeting on Dec. 13 and 14, in which the central bank is expected to raise its fed funds target rate by a half percentage point. A 50 basis point increase would mark a slowing from the prior 75 basis point rate hikes set by the central bank.
https://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Antalya-Turkey.jpg10801080Spencer Lihttps://synapsetrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/logo.jpgSpencer Li2022-12-03 00:18:002022-12-04 19:52:42Weekly Market Wrap: Will the Fed Pivot Cause a Market Reversal?
