Tuesday, June 15

Analysts are overrated

Meteorologists have the best job in the world - they can predict heavy rains tomorrow, but when tomorrow passes by with nothing but great sunshine, the meteorologist keeps his job and try again.

For those of you who are into the theory of forecasting, Rule #1 of forecasting states this.

Forecast are never accurate.

Nothing is 100%. Predicting weather is based on what is likely to happen. Similarly, choosing a boyfriend that seems nice enough doesn't guarantee that he doesn't stray, he's just less likely to do so.

Analyst predicts the future outcome based on past events (Markov Rule). Methods like moving averages, stochastic processes, regression, extrapolation, neural networks, weird simulation models and all the fancy forecasting methods are used to create a black box model, which the layman doesn't understand.

And presto, an analyst report is produced.

In almost every analyst report released to the market, they are normally accompanied by lots of footnotes stating assumptions. Like for example, an insurance brochure saying how fast you can grow your money in the best likely situation of 15% annual growth (and a year later after you buy the policy, the recession sets in).

Facts do not lie. Biased opinions and the way that selected data is used however do try to skew the reader's judgement towards signing up for a financial plan.

Though analysts are supposedly objective, there is normally a motive for the report. Even a reporter who wants to report objectively may tone down his criticism because of his editor, or intervention from government-related agencies.

My first job upon graduation was an analyst at some government-linked company. I had complex mathematical models to do some forecast, but the numbers that I came up with were often deal with sceptism by the experienced people. Eventually I realised this.

The correct answers are what the client wants to listen.

And also to all aspiring analysts, here's a tip from Uncle Shingo.

It's better to have a simple forecasting model that the client understands, than a more accurate model that acts like an unknown black box.

Moving on, investment reports have always been accompanied with words like caveat emptor, which means buyers beware. Always take an analyst report with a pinch of salt, digest the facts, but don't take their recommendation blindly. No one is responsible for your own losses (and wins) but yourself.

A stock market newbie often make this mistake by following friend's advices or overweight calls from reports. I know, because I have been through that phase, and lost money because of it. And I have got no one to blame but my own laziness to spend time reading up.

Some time back, a research team pit a bunch of experienced traders against a bunch of kids in picking stocks. And as you might have guessed correctly, the noobs won the experienced traders. Sometimes you are better off making a wild guess than to take the advice of an "expert".

On an interesting note, JP Morgan, a leading financial service firm, recently published a paper on the World Cup. It predicted the winners of each round, and interetingly, if you followed them, you would have lost money.

What JP Morgan predicted
Netherland beat Denmark
Cameroon beat Japan
Italy beat Paraguay

And the result were as follows
Netherland beat Denmark (2-0)
Japan beat Cameroon (1-0)
Italy drew Paraguay (1-1)

Any football savvy guy could have easily make bets that will give JP Morgan a run for its money.

To the guys at JP Morgan, just stick to what you do "best".

12 comments:

Ice said...

Analysts suck big time. I don't believe in financial planners or analysts, full stop.

Come and think about it, if they really know what they are doing, they don't need to have a job title call "Analyst", am I right?

khengsiong said...

I don't trust weather forecast. I notice that they predict tomorrow's weather based on yesterday's. If it's raining yesterday, they would say it's rainy day tomorrow.

HappySurfer said...

Life's like that... we won't know today what comes tomorrow. Even the Chinese have a saying for that.

I think, not knowing the future is what makes life interesting - something we can look forward to based on the concept of what we sow today will determine what we reap tomorrow. Of course, not including weather forecasts. haha..

Great post, Uncle Shingo. And thanks for the heads-up.

TG said...

Good info as usually by the wise uncle Shingo ;)

Manju said...

actuarial analyst here lolling at this post uncle shingo haha

Wenny said...

I dont bother about these things. My eyes are wide-shut coz I leave these to hubby. If there's any gains, I'll go shopping. If he loses, I'll show him a long face ... kekeke!

Anonymous said...

I'll bet according to my instincts! Haha

Wer

Unknown said...

I don't do the stock market at all. Don't know how! My hubby has been at it for along time but he does his homework, still he's not a millionaire!!

Anonymous said...

Don't listen to analysts. They are never really spot on. Risky to trust them...especially when it comes to equity market.

Ricademus said...

A economist friend used to work as an analyst for the US State Department doing economic forecasts for regions in Africa. He spent half his time projecting what WOULD happen and the other half explaining why it DIDN'T.

Also, my statistics professor told me there are liars, damn liars, and statistians. =)

PS - You're lucky, I usually get stuck looking at a crazy man in the mirror. Every morning he attacks me with a razor.

Ricademus said...

**statisticians**

இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

Uncle Shingo wah now status ungraded a bit..ahem. Huh the JP fellas predicting football???That's cute!!With what technical basis ~ *Moving Averages* on how fast the footballers can run or move in between the goal post? Yeah you are right they should better be sticking on with their Idiot Wave oops Elliot Wave than creating waka waka waves in World Cup..hehehe

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