Tak-Cheng Tse - Derivatives Trader

"As a trader you get a lot of freedom to try new things"

Name:  Tak-Cheng Tse
Location: Hong Kong
Job title: Derivatives Trader
Job description: Head of the Asian warrants team.

I’m in the office around 8am. But I will have checked at home to see what the US market has done the previous day. I grab some breakfast in the office and then start to prepare our systems for trading, which starts at 10am.

The trading day consists of two sessions: 10am – 12.30pm and 2.30pm – 4pm. In between the sessions we can go out and get some lunch, analyze the trades done in the morning session and work on outstanding tasks. 

Part-time to full-time

I studied Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. I started at IMC (Amsterdam office) as an evening trader in 2005 while finishing my Master’s degree.

As an evening trader, I was responsible for monitoring the US stock market as well as running end-of-day procedures for the options market makers. After I finished my studies I joined IMC as a junior trader.

I moved to our new Hong Kong office in 2007.

Fast-paced freedom

I was attracted to the fast-paced financial industry and IMC attracted me in particular. The learning curve is very steep from day one and as a trader you get a lot of freedom to try new things. With a strong analytical background and a pragmatic attitude, I was a good fit for IMC.

IMC understands very well what its strengths and weaknesses are and therefore knows how to take advantage of its competitive edge.

Learning and analysis

After trading hours, we spend time in meetings to discuss current projects, analyze the market and monitor our trading performance. We lay strong emphasis on automation, market/trading analysis and improving execution strategies. I try to learn as much as possible about the market, our systems and trading software.

Also, I try to automate as much as possible so that during trading I can focus on identifying and capturing the opportunities rather than performing manual tasks.

A young team

We have a very young team and we are all working hard together to outperform the competition. But in the process we have lots of fun. After work we play football, soccer, basketball and have drinks once in a while.

My working day usually ends between 7 and 8pm and then I head off to one of the many restaurants, play sports or simply go home and watch a movie.

I like to hike during weekends and travel around whenever I get the opportunity.

THE PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SHARES DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE ‘‘SECURITIES ACT’’) OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN TRANSACTIONS NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT.

By clicking on the appropriate button below, you will be deemed to have acknowledged and represented that you are not in the United States. Otherwise you will be returned to the previous page.