Mark Weinstein is a highly successful trader profiled in Market Wizards. After early trading failure, Weinstein diligently studied the markets. Learning from his mistakes, Weinstein eventually became a winning trader in a variety of financial instruments ranging from stock options to soy bean contracts. This article outlines the trading principals Weinstein shares in Market Wizards.
Accepting Responsibility for Losses
One of the turning points in Weinstein’s trading career followed a large soy bean trade loss. After emotionally and financially recovering from the loss, Weinstein realized that his trading results were dictated by his …

Investment banks are frequently discussed and anlyzed in the financial press, especially during the current credit and financial crunch. This article reviews the structure and normal functions of typical investment banks.

Investment banks primarily have two functions. The first function is to raise and invest capital. The second is to advise clients on strategic actions, such as mergers and acquisitions. Investment banks primarily serve as intermediaries between companies that need capital and companies wanting to investment capital.

In addition, investment banks have been increasingly employing their own balance sheets to generate profits without directly serving clients through groups such as proprietary trading and internal alternative investment funds.