Bloomberg has a story proposing the health of global trade can be judged by extramarital affairs , and Latvian hookers. Why Latvian? Two websites, one that caters to British traders having affairs, and another that offers the services of Latvian prostitutes, compared their traffic patterns with market activity. Apparently traffic was way up in two circumstances: markets booms and collapses. Analysts say this has something to do with “animal spritis” pushing the market in extreme directions. When people are over- confident, or despondent, they buy or sell in bulk, and they also stray from their usual bedding habits.
Lesson: Mothers, don’t let your sons grow up to be traders.
