Top Traders Unplugged

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Latest Episodes:

SI350: Why All Roads Lead to Higher Yields ft. Alan Dunne May 31, 2025

Show notes

Why are markets still priced as if the old world is coming back? Alan Dunne and Niels Kaastrup-Larsen examine the case for structurally higher yields — not as a risk, but as the regime. Drawing from Alan’s recent writing, they trace how debt levels, policy incentives, and investor complacency have converged into a feedback loop that central banks may no longer control. From Japan’s bond signals to the quiet retreat of fiscal discipline in the U.S., this episode maps a shift that’s already underway. For investors still relying on yesterday’s models, the risk isn’t missing the turn...it’s not seeing that we’ve already made it.

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50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

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Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Alan on Twitter.

Episode TimeStamps:

00:13 - Introduction to Systematic Investing

10:52 - Global Macro Picture: All Roads Lead to Higher Yields

17:26 - The Evolution of Economic Policy and Debt Dynamics

29:55 - The Influence of Economic Policies on Inflation and Growth

40:13 - Market Trends and Investor Sentiment Survey

45:08 - Navigating Market Expectations and Historical Trends

59:34 - The Importance of Diversification in Investment Strategies

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PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

IL39: Is Trump Making Europe Great Again? ft. Koen De Leus & Philippe Gijsels May 28, 2025

Show notes

We're diving deep into some serious discussions about the shifting dynamics in Europe, particularly how the political landscape, especially with Trump's influence, is shaking things up. Economists Koen De Leus & Philippe Gijsels who authored a compelling book on the New World Economy, argue that Trump's policies might actually be a wake-up call for Europe, pushing it to innovate and stand on its own. We explore the concept of multi-globalization, where emerging markets are stepping into the spotlight as global trade partners, and how the geopolitical climate is driving this change. We also touch on the implications of these shifts for global markets and the economy, especially in terms of energy and raw materials. It's a thought-provoking chat that challenges our views on dependency and the future of Europe in a rapidly changing world.

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50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Kevin on SubStack & read his Book.

Follow Koen on LinkedIn.

Follow Philippe on LinkedIn.

Learn more about their book.

Episode TimeStamps:

02:09 - Welcoming back Koen De Leus & Philippe Gijsels

04:05 - What is multi globalization and how does it apply to today's global economy?

11:57 - Is it safe for European companies to rely on U.S tech?

19:01 - The future of Europe

24:52 - The forces driving gold

29:04 - Investing in the physical metals vs investing in the miners

31:08 - How climate changes impacts raw materials like copper

37:36 - How the energy transition impacts investor sentiment

42:32 - When will AI make an impact on productivity?

48:44 - Start investing in yourself

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PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

SI349: Navigating the Age of Uncertainty with Trend Following ft. Mark Rzepczynski May 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Niels and Mark Rzepczynski examine a market where the usual relationships have broken down. Bonds offer no shelter, volatility moves without conviction, and political intervention keeps distorting the signals investors rely on. What once served as protection now feels unreliable. Behind the headlines on tariffs, inflation, and eroding trust in institutions lies a deeper question about how to navigate when the frameworks built for one regime are carried into another. With a balance of macro insights, behavioral nuance, and hard-earned skepticism, this conversation looks at what really drives returns when narratives shift faster than the data.

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50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Mark on Twitter.

Episode TimeStamps:

00:13 - What Caught our Attention

04:16 - The Impact of Supply Chains on Global Trade

08:51 - The Complexities of Trust in Economics

17:45 - Understanding Trend Following in Financial Markets

27:18 - The Age of Uncertainty

32:51 - Understanding Market Uncertainty

36:52 - More than One Type of Uncertainty

49:53 - The Fallout of Trend Following

01:01:22 - The Dynamics of Safe Assets

01:02:41 - Transitioning from Concepts to Practical Insights in Trend Following

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

GM82: The Surprising Success of the U.S. Economy ft. Elroy Dimson & Kiran Ganesh May 21, 2025

Show notes

America's recent economic performance has been a surprise, as it's managed to outperform many other markets over the last quarter century. We review the insights from the Global Investment Returns Yearbook, discussing how the US has thrived and what that means for future investment strategies. Our guests, Elroy Dimson and Kiran Ganesh, share their expertise on market trends, the importance of diversification, and the implications of recent economic shifts. We also explore the complexities of factors like equity risk premium and the evolving role of bonds in an investment portfolio. Join us as we explore these themes and consider what’s next for investors in a changing global landscape. You can read the Global Investment Returns Yearbook here.

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50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Alan on Twitter.

Follow Elroy on LinkedIn.

Follow Kiran on LinkedIn.

Episode TimeStamps:

02:19 - Introduction to Elroy Dimson and Kiran Ganesh

09:21 - What kind of feedback do they get from clients?

13:04 - Stocks for the long run?

17:41 - Is the US losing its grip on its economy?

24:08 - Are indicies becoming more crucial for portfolios?

25:39 - Ranking equity markets according to risk

27:22 - How often should we expect economic collapses?

29:13 - The surprising outcomes of bonds

34:00 - Bonds - are we returning to 1999?

38:31 - Which asset classes are the optimal inflation hedges?

40:47 - Where do most of their returns come from?

41:56 - How they approach the evolving interest rate landscape

43:49 - The state of Bitcoin and alternative assets

49:59 - Key insights to factor investing

54:38 - Is value investing becoming structurally more challenged?

55:48 - Performance expectations in the major asset classes

57:36 - Advice for constructing a solid long term portfolio

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

SI348: The Quiet Cost of Overfitting ft. Andrew Beer May 17, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Beer returns to confront a moment of reckoning for trend following. As managed futures suffer one of their worst periods in decades, he and Niels explore a deeper question: has the strategy evolved in ways that undermine its edge? From the seduction of short-term models to the unintended consequences of complexity, this conversation traces how well-meaning enhancements may be compounding the very problems they aim to solve. Layer in political volatility, crowded positioning, and allocator fatigue, and the path forward looks less like innovation and more like rediscovery. This episode isn’t a defense of recent results... it’s a clear-eyed look at what happens when a strategy built on discipline gets pulled off course, and what it takes to steer it back.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Andrew on Twitter.

Episode TimeStamps:

03:20 - Reflecting on Apple and China's Tech Revolution

17:28 - Shifts in the Market Landscape: The Influence of Trump and AI

20:03 - The Dynamics of Negotiation in Real Estate

30:15 - Market Dynamics and the Role of Central Banks

39:26 - The Changing Dynamics of Market Trends

48:00 - Evaluating Investment Strategies and Performance

53:19 - Navigating Market Challenges and Expectations

01:08:34 - The Future of Investment Strategies

01:11:10 - Navigating Market Changes

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

UGO02: Inequality, Inflation, and the End of Consensus ft. Jim Bianco May 14, 2025

Show notes

What if the volatility we’re seeing is not a pause in the cycle, but the start of something lasting? In this episode, Cem Karsan sits down with Jim Bianco to unpack the forces reshaping the market and the political landscape around it. From the roots of labor unrest in 1880s Chicago to rising tariffs and inflation today, they trace how decades of policy widened inequality and fractured the middle. This is a conversation about debt, power, and the limits of the old playbook. The Fed may no longer be able to step in. Passive investing may no longer offer safety. If you are still positioned for the past, this episode is a clear signal to rethink what comes next.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Cem on Twitter.

Follow Jim on X.

Episode TimeStamps:

02:01 - Introduction to Jim Bianco and Bianco Research

06:36 - The big macro picture view

16:02 - The financial inequality is at an all time high

22:51 - The power of generational wealth

24:07 - The imbalance of politics - something has to change

27:47 - Why we will see a major shift in how we invest soon

30:19 - How the economy is changing

36:10 - What defines a strong economy?

40:58 - What is Trump talking about?

45:36 - The outlook of the economy

53:33 - The core of the political problems in the US

55:16 - How to benefit from the current market volatility

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

SI347: Stagflation, Storytelling, and the Search for a New Hero ft. Cem Karsan May 10, 2025

Show notes

Today Cem and Niels dissect a world quietly shifting beneath our feet.

As markets hum along, Cem explains why the real story lies beneath the surface: a structural liquidity drain, a creeping stagflation that defies familiar playbooks, and a political regime shift few are pricing in. From Buffett’s exit to dollar fragility, elite endowments tapping the bond market, and oil diplomacy with geopolitical undertones—this is a conversation about change in motion.

But this episode doesn’t stop at markets. It’s about the narrative arc of societies under stress—about whether the West can summon the unity and courage to face its next great test.

Insightful, urgent, and layered - this is the episode you will look back on and say: the clues were all there.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Cem on Twitter.

Episode TimeStamps:

01:17 - What has caught our attention recently?

06:54 - Industry performance update

08:44 - Inflation is coming - what now?

16:43 - The Fed is stuck and the Trump administration is changing

26:07 - If US debt defaults, what is left?

29:32 - Are we experiencing the decline of the dollar?

40:19 - The OPEC game

43:21 - Reflecting on the conversation with Demetri Kofinas

48:33 - What is courage as a society?

50:49 - The West is being disunified...on purpose

53:22 - Do we actually know who or what the real enemy is?

58:58 - Cem's latest market forecast

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

GM81: What If Everything You Believe About Markets Is Wrong? ft. Demetri Kofinas May 07, 2025

Show notes

What if the biggest risk in markets today isn’t volatility, inflation, or geopolitics - but the stories we believe to be true? In this unfiltered and thought-provoking episode, Demetri Kofinas joins Cem Karsan and Niels Kaastrup-Larsen for a piercing conversation that challenges how we process information, construct narratives, and make decisions in uncertain environments. This isn’t about market forecasts - it’s about how easily our thinking can be hijacked. From the corrosive incentives of financial media to the quiet ways conviction becomes cognitive quicksand, Demetri argues that investors today are drowning not in data, but distortion - misled by institutions built to entertain, not enlighten. Yet this episode is more than critique. It offers a path forward - one grounded in introspection, discomfort, and the discipline of intellectual honesty. For anyone managing capital - or simply trying to see clearly in a noisy world—this is a conversation that may shift not just your positions, but your perspective. Because the greatest edge in markets isn’t a model. It’s clarity when others are lost in the fog.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Cem on Twitter.

Follow Demetri on X.

Episode TimeStamps:

03:21 - Introduction to Demetri Kofinas

04:39 - The era of financial nihilism

11:44 - The birth of a radical optimism?

20:10 - The risk of not heeding the call

26:16 - The dark side of smoothing the business cycle

29:14 - What have we lost in the vacuum of consequence?

33:39 - The collapse of the social contract

38:25 - The importance of a unified narrative

47:16 - Technology - a driver of unity or disunity?

50:05 - The role of government in libertarianism

53:12 - How far are we from a fourth turning?

56:25 - Crisis is a perception relative to where you are

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

SI346: Is the Trend Still Your Friend ft. Rob Carver May 03, 2025

Show notes

This episode is all about understanding the nuances of trend-following and how current market dynamics are shaking things up. Together with Rob Carver, we discuss the turbulence that hit financial markets in April and how that affected Trend Followers, as well as how Rob navigated the last 12 months as a trend follower. Plus, we explore the intriguing topic of safe haven assets, questioning if traditional choices like U.S. treasury bonds still hold up under pressure. We also explore a paper that the discuss the pros and cons of simplicity over complexity in strategy design.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Rob on Twitter.

Episode TimeStamps:

01:40 - What has caught our attention recently?

06:59 - Society is going crazy

09:47 - Industry performance update

16:22 - How to capture the bounce in trailing stops

23:20 - Industry performance numbers

25:18 - Q1, Niall: What books would you recommend for a young quant entering the CTA space today?

29:05 - Reviewing Rob's annual trend following performance

36:26 - Should we start to rethink our approach to drawdowns?

40:45 - How do we stop investors from projecting market expectations to trend following performance

44:16 - How Rob defines slippage

50:12 - What if we base our trend system on one indicator?

54:18 - Does this trend following thing still work?

58:56 - Getting to know the founders of trend following

01:01:09 - Rob's approach to leveraged ETFs

01:07:27 - What is up for next week?

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

IL38: Our Dollar, Your Problem ft. Kenneth Rogoff Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

What if the most dangerous thing in the global economy isn’t a shock — but the quiet collapse of the frameworks we still rely on?

In this rare, unfiltered conversation, Kenneth Rogoff — Harvard professor and former IMF Chief Economist — joins Kevin Coldiron to confront the reality that’s too uncomfortable for most policymakers to admit:

The world has changed. The models haven’t.

Rogoff explores what happens when inflation refuses to respond, debt compounds beneath the surface, AI reshapes productivity, and geopolitics redraws the map — while central banks keep playing by yesterday’s rules.

This isn’t a call for panic. It’s a call for intellectual honesty.

Because in a world where the past no longer explains the present, clarity is the only edge that matters.

If you manage capital — or ideas — in a world built on assumptions, this episode is for you.

-----

50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE

-----

Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTubeor via the TTU website.

IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.

And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.com

And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.

Follow Kevin on SubStack & read his Book.

Follow Kenneth on Xand read his book.

Episode TimeStamps:

02:01 - Introduction to Kenneth Rogoff

03:04 - What is at stake if the dollar loses its dominance?

09:13 - How Trump tariffs are destroying the dollar

13:27 - What are the alternatives to the dollar dominance?

19:18 - How increased military spending could strengthen the European currencies

27:19 - The Chinese Yuan is evolving

36:01 - The potential for alternative stable coins

43:25 - The perks of currency dominance

44:26 - Why dollar dominance gives us lower rates

52:05 - Are we entering a new era of currencies?

54:55 - What form will the financial repression take?

59:24 - How Rogoff would deal with the U.S debt

01:03:21 - We are gambling on rates

01:06:31 - Its time for the profession to wake up

----

PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:

1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Disclaimer

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