Hormones Tied to Traders' Deal-Making, Study Finds

[ovidsen]

Source: Washington Post

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 21, 2008; Page A06

It should come as no surprise that Wall Street traders work in a testosterone-saturated world, but scientists now have the first direct evidence that these Masters of the Universe may be bigger slaves to their hormones than anyone realized.

By measuring young male traders' hormone levels as they brokered high-stakes deals, the researchers showed that they tended to make more money on days when their testosterone levels were high. That suggests that the hormone makes them more likely to take profitable risks, but also that it may play a role in pumping up economic bubbles.

The small study also found that traders' levels of the stress hormone cortisol tended to fluctuate with the volatility in markets, indicating that it could be a factor in making brokers more cautious during downturns, helping to puncture speculative bubbles.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/20/AR2008042001826.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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Who'd da thunk it??

[But....]

1. It's all....

connected:wow:

[truthisfreedom]

2. Maybe we need to replace these nutjobs with female traders.

Wall street does not make ANYTHING.

[girl gone mad]

3. They're already being replaced..

with computer programs.

[HereSince1628]

4. Exactly what type of "nuts" are you talking about?

Is that an anatomical attack? :rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

5. These are the GUYS driving gas and food prices through the roof...

in an effort to line their own pockets.

Meanwhile, everyone who eats, or drives, pays the price for their hormone imbalance. Sheesh.

[sam sarrha]

6. on CNN the other day a previous presidents economic adviser said oil should be about 1/2 what it is

the other half is because there is no regulation of hedge funds and speculators',

their looting is causing the Bubbles, they are like a bunch of fucking monkeys at a salad bar

the Clinton prosperity was due to taxing speculators.. who are really just looters

[Xithras]

7. Heard on CNBC this morning that it costs the Saudi's $8 to pump and ship a barrel of oil

There's 42 gallons in a barrel. The math should be obvious.

He then said basically the same thing you did. Based on availability and demand, prices should be 30% to 50% lower than they are now. The rise is caused by speculative trading in various worldwide markets.

[OKthatsIT]

8. Their bosses like it the way it is...profit margins are more important

than gonads. But if gonads do the job, then its a good thing to have hanging on.