amplify trading career programme 2014(5)

TRADING & FINANCIAL MARKET ANALYSIS 2014

CAREER TRADING WITH AMPLIFY TRADING

Placed at the forefront of current financial

market volatility, London based trading firm

Amplify Trading delivers an invaluable

opportunity for new traders to develop a well-

respected practical skill-set in todays financial

industry and an in-depth understanding of

todays financial markets.

Building on fifteen years of trading experience

Amplify Trading has developed an industry

leading training operation adjacent to its trading

arm. The quality of Amplifys training is validated

by the fact that we are now integral to the

graduate training programmes at leading

investment banks such as HSBC, Bank of

America, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan where

Amplify is brought in to help prepare their new

employees for roles within capital markets.

Amplify Trading has worked hard to build a

reputation of excellence and professionalism

within the industry, and we continuously strive

to exceed the expectations of all our clients.

The following pages detail the career trading

programme where candidates spend a minimum

of three months on their own trading desk based

on our trading floor. Career traders will have the

opportunity to spend at least four weeks trading

on the live markets fully backed by Amplify

Trading and receive a competitive profit share

from their trading activity.

Our aim in this programme is to help candidates

become consistently profitable in the live markets

as they manage their risk trading across multiple

asset classes backed by Amplify Trading. We

have developed our live traders through this

programme and believe such intense training

with personal support from professional traders

is the best step a candidate can take to start

trading at an institutional level.

A TRADING CAREER AT THE HEART OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL MARKETS

Piers Curran, Head of Trading, monitoring Amplify traders positions

Copyright 2014 Amplify Trading Ltd

3

INTENSIVE TRAINING TO START YOUR TRADING CAREER

As you start your trading career on a real money account with Amplify Trading, we will make sure you develop the essential skill-sets needed to manage your positions at an institutional level. You will be trading our funds, so we work hard to ensure you have the best possible knowledge and support. Throughout the three months (minimum period) that you will be based on our trading floor we will ensure you meet the below objectives.

Apply a macroeconomic understanding to trade across international financial markets in response to breaking financial news and analysis

Understand the fundamental driving factors behind equity, commodity, currency and fixed income valuations

Learn through practical application the key concepts of portfolio management as you manage risk across a trading portfolio using institutional trading software

Gain first-hand experience in the importance of behavioural finance and trading psychology within an environment of uncertainty and risk

Learn to understand and analyse financial markets by applying advanced technical analysis techniques across asset classes

Gain experience using industry leading software to back-test trading strategies, use linear regression models and work with Amplifys proprietary trading algorithms

Apply mentoring support and advice from experienced traders at Amplify. Achieve three positive weeks out of four in the second month of training in any one of seven different assets in order to go live in those assets receiving an initial trading margin from Amplify Trading of up to $18,000.00

Manage your own live trading account from the start of month three and receive 60% of all profitable activity on that trading account. Receive weekly trading reviews in order to increase your market exposure and margin provided from Amplify in order to increase trading returns.

Amplify Traders who finish their third month with a flat or positive live account will be asked to continue to trade with Amplify Trading and will continue to have their margin fully funded by Amplify Trading. There are no further training fees after the third month of the Career Programme.


FIVE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

As you develop as an Amplify Trader you will pass through five stages of development:

1.) CLASSES IN THEORY Right from the start our Head of Trading Piers Curran, will take you through key

aspects of macro economic theory, technical analysis and behavioural finance.

2.) BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS We introduce a new asset class each week to your portfolio. Interactive

theory sessions are followed immediately by putting that theory into practice in live market conditions. Can-

didates are assessed and reviewed by their mentor throughout each day.

3.) PROGRESSIVE TRADING Equipped with the tools and understanding of intraday trading strategies, you

will use increased market exposure to develop your own trading style and work closely with your mentor to

achieve three out of four positive weeks in your favoured assets.

4.) INITIAL LIVE MARKET TRADING At the start of month three you will be moved onto the live market en-

vironment with your trading account fully funded by Amplify trading. You will receive personal support from

our head of trading to help you cross the psychological barrier from simulated to real money trading.

5.) PROFESSIONAL LIVE MARKET TRADING As you continue to trade on the live market environment Am-

plify will be looking to increase your size and exposure in order for you to operate and develop as an experi-

enced institutional trader managing your risk across multiple asset classes.

Above : Career Traders spend the first month in the training room before moving to their own desk on our main trading floor

LOCATION

All career traders will spend month one on their own trading desk in the training room which adjoins our

trading floor. Career traders will then move across to the main trading floor for months two and three as

they progress on to the live markets. Traders that complete month three with a flat or positive account will

be offered the opportunity to continue trading as an Amplify Trader.


FIVE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT: TRADING CAREER PROGRAMME

INITIAL MARKET THEORY

TRADE EQUITY

AND CURRENCY

MARKETS

TRADE

FIXED INCOME

PRODUCTS

TRADE

COMMODITY

MARKETS

STAGE 3 [SECOND MONTH]

PROGRESSIVE TRADING

STAGES 1 + 2 [FIRST MONTH]

KEY MARKET THEORY &

BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS

MOVE TO THE TRADING FLOOR

TRADE ACROSS ALL ASSET

CLASSES WITH INCREASED

EXPSOURE. ACHIEVE

THREE OUT OF FOUR UP

WEEKS IN ANY PRODUCT

STAGE 4 [THIRD MONTH]

INITIAL LIVE MARKET TRADING

STAGE 5 [AFTER MONTH THREE]

INSTITUTIONAL TRADING

INDEPENDENT TRADING

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

TRADE ACROSS ALL ASSET CLASSES WITH INCREASED EXPO-

SURE. ACHIEVE THREE OUT OF FOUR UP WEEKS IN ANY ONE

PRODUCT IN ORDER TO GO LIVE IN THAT PRODUCT

TRADE LIVE ON UP TO

SEVEN PRODUCTS IN

ACCORDANCE WITH

MONTH TWO

CONTINUE TO TRADE

OTHER PRODUCTS ON

SIMULATED MARKETS

TO ADD TO LIVE

PORTFOLIO

TRADE LIVE ON UP TO

SEVEN PRODUCTS IN

ACCORDANCE WITH

MONTH TWO RECEIVING

SHARE OF PROFITS

CONTINUE TO

TRADE AS A FULLY

BACKED AMPLIFY

TRADER WITH NO

TRAINING FEES

FINSIH MONTH THREE IN PROFIT

BECOME AN

INDEPENDENT

TRADER WITH YOUR

OWN FUNDED

ACCOUNT

USE FRONT DESK

EXPERIENCE TO

LEVERAGE WIDER

ROLES IN FINANCE


SYSTEMS, RISK MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT

TRADING PLATFORM

All our traders are set up with the institutional trading software that is used throughout all top level trading

floors around the globe. Traders view in real time the assets in their trading portfolio, with prices, orders and

fills being updated by the microsecond. The direct market access trading platform (above) with level two

visibility allows over 150 technical analysis functions to be applied.

Traders will be introduced to quantitative trading methods to back-test their strategies and will be shown how

to incorporate our series of proprietary trading algorithms and analysis software to better assess price

opportunity.

NEWS AND ANALYSIS

When training with Amplify, you learn how to assess and understand the changing fundamental news flow. In

order to take full advantage of that knowledge it is important to get that news fast. All our traders receive

access to live, up to the second market news and analysis, as soon as it breaks. Each day you will receive our

strategy reports from our team of analysts to help provide further insight into the products you trade.

MARKET BRIEFINGS AND DATA REVIEWS

At the start of the EU and US trading sessions you will be invited by our Head of Trading, Piers Curran, to join a

market briefing discussion to prepare for economic announcements throughout the day. You will be immersed

in continuous market debate with our experienced traders assessing economic data as it gets released,

providing an invaluable practical market experience.

Above left, institutional trading platform. Above right, Amplify Tradings news service and virtual trading room


TIMETABLE AND STRUCTURE

Each week follows a clear structure of objectives to give you the most comprehensive experience on the front

desk of financial markets. For the first week, all trainees will be invited to our trading floor to be taught key

theory by Piers Curran, before they then trade throughout each day applying the new concepts and processes

learned.

WEEK 1 [STAGE 1]: IN-HOUSE INDUCTION WEEK

OBJECTIVE: To achieve a solid fundamental understanding of the markets you will be trading, and to understand how to read

charts as a professional, applying technical analysis to make better decisions. To appreciate the behavioural factors that influence

financial markets and understand the challenge of managing risk within uncertainty.

MONDAY

13:00-15:00 Introduction to Amplify Trading, get to know the traders, introduction to trading systems and software

15:30-16:30 Analysis of contemporary macroeconomic drivers from the credit crunch to the Eurozone crisis and the global recovery

16:30-18:00 Introduction to technical and fundamental analysis and behavioural finance

TUESDAY

13:00-15:00 The structure of global markets and how they function

15:30-16:30 Technical Analysis: candlestick charting; support/resistance levels & trends;

16:30-18:00 How to optimise entry & exit strategies; Introduction to risk management

WEDNESDAY

13:00-15:00 Technical Analysis: Pivot Levels; Fibonacci Retracement; Moving Averages; RSI

15:30-16:30 Behavioural finance; prospect theory, herd mentality, confirmation bias and discounting the efficient market hypothesis

16:30-18:00 Trading psychology session; Kolbs learning cycle; individual psychometric profiling tests

THURSDAY

13:00-15:00 Monetary policy and the role of the central bank;; Money supply and money demand

15:30-16:30 Analysing the European Central Bank Press Conference and associated market reactions

16:30-18:00 Building trading strategies; trading ranging and momentum markets

FRIDAY

13:00-15:00 Commodity focus, hard and soft commodities, the role of gold, outlook for world oil review

15:30-16:30 Trading Economic Data Releases

16:30-18:00 Practical session on the trading systems


MULTI-ASSET CLASS TRADING [STAGE 2]: WEEKS 2 - 4

From week two, new traders operate their trading terminal throughout the European and US market sessions.

Traders add a new asset class to their portfolio each week and apply theory taught on live market prices. Trading

takes place between 08:00 and 16:30 each day on your own trading desk and sessions are complimented by the

following additional theory topics below.

Below: Trade from our trading floor in the heart of The City

WEEK 2: EQUITIES & FX

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: To familiarise yourself with the trading platform. To implement risk limits and basic

technical analysis trading across equities and currency pairs. Test trading strategies taught including

both classic and aggressive approaches.

MONDAY Set up trading systems ; Lecture: Trading FX Markets; Diploma exam for week one theory

TUESDAY Stock Index Review: S&P 500, Eurostoxx 50; Tech analysis: Support/Resistance/Trends;

WEDNESDAY Tech analysis: Candlestick Charting & a Study of Candlestick Psychology

THURSDAY Lecture - The Practical Trader: Trading rules and discipline; Trading day routine

FRIDAY Lecture: Asset class correlations; How the Economic Machine Works

WEEK 3 : FIXED INCOME

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: To apply bond theory taught across different durations of German government bonds

and US Treasuries. Trade across the yield curve and understand the effect of contemporary monetary

policy on fixed income valuations. To apply more advanced technical analysis tools.

MONDAY Trading review with mentor; Group risk limit review; Lecture: Trading Government Bonds;

TUESDAY Tech analysis: Charting techniques session; Lecture: Trailing stops & OCO orders

WEDNESDAY Tech analysis: Charting patterns - Penants, Head & Shoulders, Continuation/Reversal patterns

THURSDAY Tech analysis: Volume, Bollinger Bands, Stochastics, MACD

FRIDAY Psychology: Mind Over Money; Group Trip to the Bank of England Museum

WEEK 4 : COMMODITIES

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: To apply a practical understanding of price discovery in energy products and the pre-

cious metal market, trading Nymex crude oil and gold futures on Globex. To trade across all assets in

direct competition with colleagues in the final day trading competition before the start of month two.

MONDAY Trading review with mentor; Lecture: Geo-Politics of Energy, The Shale gas Revolution & Trading Crude Oil

TUESDAY Trading Psychology review & Personal Profiling

WEDNESDAY Group event at Bloomberg offices including BAT test and tutorial on functionality of the Bloomberg terminal,

Technical analysis project

THURSDAY Two day trading competition: Theory (Scores collated for $P&L for Fridays competition)

FRIDAY Two day trading competition: Trading (Combine theory scores with Trading P&L for end of month competition)


WEEK 5

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: Review new limits with new mentor and acclimatise to professional trading room on the

trading floor. Traders are expected to develop a consistent performance applying theory learned in

month one.

MONDAY Meet new trading mentor; trading performance and limit review, re-cap on profit expectations

TUESDAY DeXtrad competency and personality profiling; Risk management review

WEDNESDAY Options trading and strategy

THURSDAY Advanced market correlations; combining technical tools

FRIDAY Contemporary study of emerging markets & the super cycle theory

WEEK 6

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: Traders undertake research analysis tasks to better understand the terminology and format

benchmarks within the industry. To learn from experience how investment banks operate and how to

best reflect the experience to leverage employment opportunities.

MONDAY Trading review with mentor; Research analysis task

TUESDAY Research analysis task (submission deadline 16:30)

WEDNESDAY Investment banking simulation with Dynamic Simulations (Day 1)

THURSDAY Investment banking simulation with Dynamic Simulations (Day 2)

FRIDAY Career Traders review on progression onto the live markets in STAGE 4

WEEK 7

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: Traders continue to build on professional experience developing consistency in their ap-

proach. Traders apply portfolio management concepts including equity valuation analysis performance

measurement techniques.

MONDAY Trading review with mentor; Strategy report project

TUESDAY Strategy report project task (submission deadline 16:30)

WEDNESDAY Portfolio management theory; Security analysis and valuation

THURSDAY Portfolio management theory; Managing a portfolio

FRIDAY Milton Friedman - The Great Depression Myth

WEEK 8

08:00 - 16:30

OBJECTIVE: Traders will see first hand how quote driven markets work at the LME, the world's largest

metal exchange. End of second month trading reviews with your mentor and allocation of Live market

access for the start of the third month.

MONDAY Trading review with mentor; Strategy report project

TUESDAY Group visit to the LME

WEDNESDAY Strategy report project

THURSDAY End of second month trading reviews

FRIDAY End of second month trading competition

PROGRESSIVE TRADING [STAGE 3]: MONTH TWO

As career traders move to their desks on the main trading floor they are introduced to their new mentors and

receive increased market exposure to trade across all asset classes as an institutional trader. This month is focussed

on the development of each career traders own consistent trading style in order to achieve three out of four

profitable weeks in their favoured products. It is these products they will start trading with on the live market at the

start of STAGE 4. The below lists the content covered by each trader in addition to their daily trading routine.


LIVE MARKET TRADING [STAGES 4 AND 5]: MONTH THREE AND BEYONED

At the start of the third month career traders move on to the live market with fully funded accounts provided by

Amplify Trading. Different traders will be suited better to the different levels of volatility of the products they trade.

The trader will go live on the products which they have achieved three out of four profitable weeks during the

previous month, in stage three of the programme. This may be any number of the listed products below:

Our more senior traders have access to many more products than listed above, from emerging market currencies to

precious metals and soft commodities. As you progress trading the live markets you will still be encouraged to

develop on a wider array of assets on the simulator. Traders will receive competitive financial compensation based

on the profitability in their Live accounts and performance will be reviewed each week by our head of trading and

managing director in order to allocate an increased market exposure where appropriate.

Traders who complete the third month with a profitable performance will be asked to continue trading as an

Amplify Trader with no further training fees. Traders who finish with a negative live account can use the invaluable

front desk experience and knowledge to either continue trading as an independent trader or leverage the

experience within the industry supported by a certificate in Trading & Financial Market Analysis and continued

careers support from Amplify Trading.

Below: Live traders will be risk managed by Amplifys head of trading Piers Curran (left) and Managing Director William de Lucy (right)

INITIAL LIVE PRODUCTS TRADED

EQUITY INDICES: E-mini S&P 500 and EUROSTOXX 50

CURRENCY PAIRS: EUR/USD and GBP/USD

FIXED INCOME (BONDS): GERMAN 10Yr BUND and US 10Yr TREASURY

COMMODITIES: MINI CRUDE OIL


TESTIMONIALS OF WORK

INSTITUTIONAL TESTIMONIALS

Truly a highlight of training. The facilitators were incredibly prepared and the

interface advanced. This was simply the best and most important part of training.

Kellie Burke, Bank of America Merrill Lynch VP, Global Markets Learning

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Amplify Trading over the past three years

Jasmine Quartey-Owoo HSBC Bank Plc, Graduate Recruitment and Development

INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONIALS

I joined Amplify to fulfil my long term dream to become a trader and to study markets.

Throughout the intense program I learned how to understand what fundamental factors

drive price activity, gain good competency in technical analysis and I applied the risk man-

agement techniques taught. I started trading on the live markets focussing on fixed income

products such as the German Bund and US Treasury Bonds. I continue to trade with Ampli-

fy building on my live market experience in my progression towards joining a Hedge Fund

on completion of my MBA.

Jonathan Rawicz. CFA Associate, Director at Quilter

Yana Pankratova, Amplify Trader and INSEAD MBA

The skills I acquired will allow me to improve my investment decisions, by comple-

menting my existing fundamental analysis skills with technical analysis skills. In particu-

lar, I really valued the fact that the course was given by actual market practitioners in a

live market environment. In addition, the opportunity to sit amongst the traders on the

floor rather than just in a class-room, it gave me a much better understanding of what a

trading floor is actually like and what trading day in day out is really all about.

Below: All career traders will be based in house on their own trading desk surrounded by our experienced traders

CAREER TRADING WITH AMPLIFY TRADING

Our flagship career programme has helped us develop many of the traders on our trading floor who con-

tinue to apply key theories taught during their initial three month period. This is a trading opportunity like

no other and we believe this is simply the best way to start a career in trading as you will be supported by

an involved and helpful team of professionals following a training programme of exceptional quality.

The training fees for a career trader to be based in house, on their own trading desk at Amplify Trading

are 1600.00 per month for three months. This includes all VAT, desk fees and system costs. Career trad-

ers can meet this cost by committing to one month at a time should they wish. For traders that finish

month three with a positive live account there will be no further training fees and they continue trading

with Amplify receiving compensation for their profitable trading.

Spaces are limited for our in-house training and so there is also a very good option to cover exactly the

same training process via our hybrid option. This involves operating on-line through our virtual room to

interact live with our trading floor throughout each day as you go through exactly the same structured

training process as those based at the office. The price for the hybrid option is 1050 per month.

We will have start dates at the beginning of each month, but please bear in mind that we only take seven

career traders for each programme and availability is often oversubscribed. Please contact us to reserve a

place or alternatively please use this registration link.

Yours sincerely,

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