STA Blog

A fortnight ago I wrote about the STA links between Steve Goldstein’s Alpha R Cubed Ltd and AlphaMind. This was handy as he will be interviewing Jack Schwager at our next STA monthly meeting (via Zoom) on Tuesday 10th November at 18:30 GMT. Members, do remember to sign up beforehand.

In my quest for balanced reporting, I felt I ought to remind readers of the other links the STA has fostered and maintained over the years.

The oldest link is with the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA). Not entirely surprising seeing as IFTA was incorporated in the state of Delaware, USA on January 22, 1986, as a not-for-profit organisation to foster education and collaboration amongst technical analysis societies and associations around the world. The STA, along with Nippon Technical Analysts Association, the Technical Security Analysts Society of San Francisco and the Canadian Society of Technical Analysts were its founding members. As well as hosting annual conferences – this year’s in virtual reality from Frankfurt for 24 hours on the 24th October – it runs the Certified Financial Technician programme (CFTe). The STA’s Diploma I and II exams are both accredited by them, and full Members of the STA are entitled to use the CFTe letters (on payment of a fee). More details on the IFTA examination process can be found here

Our second link was with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). A link brokered by Deborah Owen, STA Fellow and previous Chairman, the agreement means that both bodies will promote common interests in advancing education and professional standards in the financial services industry by way of exemptions from specific CISI units to holders of the STA Diploma, recognising the STA Diploma for the purposes of eligibility to CISI’s higher lever qualifications. At the time she said: ‘’ the new partnership agreement with the CISI is a seismic change for the STA, as it helps promote a greater understanding of how technical analysis can be profitably incorporated into investment strategies’’. www.cisi.org/cisiweb2/cisi-website/study-with-us

Our most recent hook-up is with the Association Cambiste Internationale (ACI), the Paris-based trade association of financial market professionals. Now re-named ACI Financial Markets Association, it’s moved on from original foreign exchange roots and the current focus is on enhancing best market practice and supporting market participants to adhere to principals of ethical conduct. They claim: ACI FMA’s suite of education, certification and attestation products and services, its committees and industry working groups and its global network of National Associations provides a comprehensive framework for education, support and advice for individuals and organisations operating in today’s financial markets. acifma.com/about-aci