One day I estimated that I had spent about half of my waking hours as a sell-side equity research analyst (until I took early retirement in 2002). I have experienced firsthand the biggest booms and some of the most sensational busts in the industry! The swift downfall of a 233-year old merchant bank, the tragic collapse of a rising financial institution during the 1997 economic crisis and the inevitable withdrawal of a regional powerhouse from its overseas operations (triggered by prolonged forex control), to name a few. Read More