A Very Covid Christmas
It’s almost Dec. 25, which means that Max Bowie is back with his annual market data Christmas-song column.

Need to know
(To the tune of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” that Max would sing as a kid…meaning this one is longer than Bing Crosby’s version.)
Christmas time is almost here,
Farewell to another year.
SEC reports all filed.
P&L now reconciled.
Joyful all ye traders rise,
Loosen collars, undo ties.
Bid farewell to teams via Zoom,
Working from their living room.
Do an on-screen happy dance
Oops! Forgot – not wearing pants!
Trading floors are quiet and still,
Empty desks remain unfilled.
People used to trading spreads,
Traded work for home instead.
Worst pandemic in our lifetime,
Trading tech our only lifeline.
Biggest projects ever seen,
Prompted by Covid-19.
Execute your bids and asks
All remotely, wearing masks.
Zoom, by highest execs adored
But where are the recordings stored?
Are your drunken on-screen rants
Fiduciary compliant?
Herald a new way of working,
Boss can tell if you are shirking.
Interrupting client calls
Kids in background, home from schools.
Don’t make fun of boss’s suit.
Oops! You’re fired! Forgot to “mute.”
Hail to video clear and loud!
Hail to data in the cloud!
You can trade from where you live
With Bloomberg or Refinitiv.
Why do banks need office space
When everyone can see your face.
From New York to Singapore
Location doesn’t matter anymore.
All you need it internet
‘Cause Covid isn’t over yet.
Now the deadlines all are done,
Hail to 2021!
Chill, relax, and treat yourselves,
With scoops from Tony and his “elves.”
We’ll be back with more next year,
For now, enjoy some Christmas cheer.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Practice social distancing!
Peace on Earth, goodwill to all,
Glory to the videocall!

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