In quantitative finance, as in other areas of technology, the simplest ideas are often the most effective. So it has proved for David Itkin, this year’s winner of the Risk.net award for rising star in quant finance.Itkin, an assistant professor in statistics at LSE, has developed a new way of assessing price impact in portfolios of trades. In doing so, he has simplified past methods in a manner that has drawn plaudits from peers.Johannes Muhle-Karbe, head of mathematical finance at Imperial College London, ...

Core Insights - Seeking Alpha welcomes a new contributing analyst, Joseph Elijah, who aims to share investment ideas and insights with serious investors [1] Group 1: Analyst Background - The new analyst has over a decade of experience in quantitative finance, risk management, and derivatives trading across global financial markets [2] - The analyst holds a Master's degree in Quantitative Finance from the Wharton School and began their career at Morgan Stanley, focusing on model risk management [2] - After five years at Morgan Stanley, the analyst worked at DRW for six years, initially as a Business Analyst in FICC Options and later as a Quantitative Researcher in Israel [2] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The analyst has transitioned to managing a personal investment portfolio and aims to share knowledge and investment philosophy online [2] - Seeking Alpha is identified as the preferred platform for connecting with serious investors who value in-depth analysis [2]

Core Insights - The Risk Asia Awards 2025 recognize excellence in various categories related to risk management and financial services across Asia [1][2][3] Group 1: Derivatives Awards - Derivatives house of the year for Asia is awarded to UBS [1] - Other notable winners include Daiwa Securities for Japan, Crédit Agricole CIB for Hong Kong and South Korea, and OCBC Bank for Singapore [1] - The award for derivatives house of the year in China goes to Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, while CTBC Bank wins for Taiwan [1] Group 2: Specialized Awards - Standard Chartered is recognized as the interest rate derivatives house of the year [1] - BofA Securities wins the currency derivatives house of the year award [1] - UBS is awarded both equity and credit derivatives house of the year [1] Group 3: Technology and Risk Solutions - Murex is named technology vendor of the year and also wins for system support and implementation [2] - S&P Dow Jones Indices is recognized for quantitative investment solutions [2] - FactSet is awarded for risk solutions [2] Group 4: Compliance and Risk Management - The best AI solution for risk management is awarded to SAS Institute [2] - Wolters Kluwer receives multiple awards for various risk management solutions including IFRS 9 and credit risk management [2] - NICE Actimize is recognized for its AML solution of the year [2]

Philanthropy & Education - Bruce Jacobs, co-founder of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, donated $60 million to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School [1] - The $60 million donation is the largest single gift in Wharton School's history [1] - The donation will be used to start a master's program in quantitative finance [1]

Group 1 - The two largest uranium producers, Kazatomprom and Cameco, have made announcements that have impacted the market, with Kazatomprom lowering their 2026 production numbers and Cameco reporting issues at one of their facilities [1] - The market reaction to these announcements indicates a potential shift in uranium supply dynamics, which could affect pricing and investment opportunities in the sector [1] Group 2 - The article mentions the author's investment focus on commodities, particularly uranium, and highlights a few companies of interest in the sector, suggesting a positive outlook on uranium investments [1]

Core Viewpoint - Kairan Quazi, a 16-year-old prodigy, has left SpaceX to join Citadel Securities as a quantitative developer, marking a significant career shift from aerospace to finance [1][3][4]. Group 1: Kairan Quazi's Background - Kairan graduated from Santa Clara University at the age of 14 and was hired by SpaceX, where he became the youngest software engineer in the Starlink department [1][8]. - He has an exceptionally high IQ of over 180 and has been recognized as a child prodigy, joining Mensa at a young age [20][21]. - Kairan faced challenges in the job market due to age-related biases, despite his qualifications and achievements [13][15]. Group 2: Transition to Citadel Securities - Kairan's new role at Citadel Securities involves working on the global trading system infrastructure, combining engineering and quantitative problem-solving [5][9]. - Citadel Securities is a leading quantitative trading firm, handling nearly a quarter of the U.S. stock market's trading volume [3][4]. - Kairan expressed excitement about the new challenges in quantitative finance, noting the faster feedback and more direct results compared to AI research [9][11]. Group 3: Company Culture and Leadership - Citadel Securities is known for its ambitious culture, which aligns with Kairan's aspirations [6][11]. - The current CEO of Citadel Securities, Zhao Peng, also has a remarkable academic background, having graduated from Peking University at a young age and built a successful career in quantitative finance [11][12].

Group 1 - Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR) is identified as a potentially attractive investment opportunity despite existing political risks in Brazil [1] - The upcoming election in Brazil is viewed as a potential catalyst for PBR's stock performance [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the author's background in algorithmic trading and macroeconomic topics, which may provide insights into investment strategies related to PBR [1] - The author has a conservative investment track record, with a notable portfolio yield of 12.84% last year at a beta of less than 0.6, indicating a focus on risk management [1]

Group 1 - Meta Platforms is highlighted as an interesting investment opportunity due to its high profitability and growth potential at a low valuation compared to other major tech companies [1] - The company has shown a strong performance in algorithmic trading and trading strategies, indicating a focus on quantitative finance [1] - The portfolio performance of the analyst managing investments through a copy trading system has yielded a return of 12.84% last year with a beta of less than 0.6, suggesting a conservative yet effective investment strategy [1] Group 2 - The analyst's experience includes managing a portfolio that achieved a 17.5% yield at the end of 2020 and maintained a nearly flat performance during the market crash in 2022, indicating resilience [1] - The transition to a quantitative trading approach reflects a strategic shift to enhance investment clarity and decision-making [1] - The analyst's increased risk this year aims to enable higher yields on investments, showcasing a proactive approach to portfolio management [1]

Group 1 - The Walt Disney Company is recognized as a leading brand in the entertainment and theme park sector, currently exhibiting strong profitability and growth potential at a low valuation [1] - The company is positioned well in the market, indicating a favorable outlook for investors [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific financial metrics or performance indicators for The Walt Disney Company [1]

Group 1 - The main focus is on algorithmic trading and trading strategies, with a particular interest in macroeconomic topics related to China [1] - The individual has a background in Economics and Finance, nearing completion of a bachelor's degree and planning to pursue a master's in quantitative finance [1] - Experience includes participation in finance-related events and holding a CISI level 3 certificate in Wealth and Investment Management [1] Group 2 - The trading track record shows a conservative approach, with a portfolio yielding 17.5% at the end of 2020 and a near-flat performance in 2022 with a loss of only 0.16% [1] - The worst year recorded a gain of only 0.8% while the market was performing well, highlighting the need for a systematic approach to market entry and exit [1] - The portfolio yielded 12.84% last year with a beta of less than 0.6, indicating a lower risk profile while achieving positive returns [1]