Chapter 74: Learning and Selling at the Same Time

"Damn?! Are they crazy?"

Excitedly, Carter blurted out in his native language.

Monopoly, this word, is familiar to anyone. Similarly, everyone knows the dangers of monopolies, as well as the potential for huge profits! Typically, monopolies are perceived to exist only in the realm of tangible goods.

For example, providing a certain product or service and using various means to eliminate all other companies in the market, thus achieving a monopoly and gaining control over pricing to reap huge profits.

Carter couldn't imagine that someone would want to monopolize silver trading in the financial markets!

You see, just one exchange like the NYSE has countless traders, large and small, not to mention individual investors. It's not just Americans; there are British, Germans, people from all over.

At this moment in New York, the NYSE is undoubtedly the center of the financial world. To monopolize the NYSE or, in other words, the silver trading market of the US, is essentially equivalent to monopolizing the world's BY market.

Even now, Carter was having a hard time believing that someone would actually do this. After all, silver trading isn't a new market; in fact, quite the opposite, it has a long history!

Before the gold standard, the silver standard prevailed for centuries. Back then, silver, much like gold today, was stored by nations, and every country had reserves.

Today, with silver reserves being more transparently explored, while its value may not be as high as before, one cannot deny the reality that silver is widespread!

In such an environment, to want to monopolize the BY market, one would need to first buy back silver from around the world, right? Otherwise, how can you monopolize when silver is everywhere? You can't just monopolize what's everywhere, can you?

But here's the problem: how much money would it take to buy back silver from almost the entire world?

Just thinking about it made Carter's scalp tingle. And, what's more, would someone really dare to do this?

But if it's not for the purpose of monopolizing silver trading, then what is the goal of this International Metal Investment Company? The name says it all; they're into investments, and buying silver isn't for production purposes.

Buying large quantities of silver at a high price when they could be selling now if they were simply speculating doesn't make sense. Typically, buying a commodity is a long-term process.

The logic is to gradually reduce the circulation of the commodity in the market, causing supply to fall below demand, raising prices, and then gradually selling off their reserves at a high price, profiting from the difference.

So, if this International Metal Investment Company is just trying to speculate, why aren't they continuing to buy? Instead, they should be gradually selling silver at this high price!

"Haha, I also think they're crazy. As for who's behind this company, as far as I know, it's just the Saudis for now. These Middle Easterners have been making a lot from oil recently, so a bit of overreach is normal. But I think it's not just them; with just them, they couldn't pull this off. Specific information is still under investigation."

Julian chuckled and didn't pay attention to Carter's exclamation. Instead, he shared the information he knew with Carter.

"Not just us securities brokers; the Futures Commission has also set up an investigation team to look into this company. But that's not important. Someone is manipulating the market, and for us, that's a good thing. At least, we don't have to worry about buying silver and getting stuck with it! Just think about it. How about it? Interested? If so, I can personally lend you $500,000, and we can make a profit from this."

"You really trust me, huh? Aren't you afraid of losing money and me not being able to pay you back?"

After some thought, Carter felt that Julian made sense. Indeed, what does it matter what this International Metal Investment Company wants to do and what its relationship is with him?

They want to buy back silver at a high price; even if they sell it at a higher price, they'll still want it! What does it matter to him whether they truly monopolize the BY market in the future or declare bankruptcy? As long as he can sell the silver to them before they go bankrupt, what does it matter?

And how long can they hold out?

Saudis? Oil?

"Hahaha, let me tell you a joke. You, Carter, can't even repay $500,000! You probably don't know how crazy Rogers and the others have been this year? It's only October, not even two months, and their profits are already up more than twenty percent! This means that your investment of $6 million in their fund is now $7.2 million! How long has it been?"

"This year is indeed crazy. Rogers and his gang have gone nuts, and so has this damn metal investment company. Everyone's gone mad! Let them be mad. Let them go crazy. Crazy!"

"Hahaha, alright, I agree! I'll fax you the power of attorney later, and you can operate it directly using the account I left at Kidder! But I'm a little scared, so one month, alright? After a month, whether we make a profit or a loss, we'll clear out everything."

Hearing about the quantum fund doing so well this year, Carter couldn't help but laugh too. Although twenty percent isn't yet the average annual return of the quantum fund, as Julian said, how long has it been?

Even if there are ups and downs in the future, an annual return of thirty percent is no big deal!

In such a situation where funds are not tight, and Julian is relatively trustworthy, Carter no longer hesitates. He doesn't even bother asking about the interest; he'll just give Julian a deadline and let him handle it.

"Alright, I'll trust you. This call was about this matter, so thank you for your trust, Julian!"

"Don't mention it. I have to thank you too, Julian. You never forget me when there's something good happening. Hahaha!"

After hanging up with Julian, Carter dialed the number left by Paul.

As the saying goes, "Two heads are better than one." While Carter hadn't learned Julian's financial knowledge yet, Julian's approach to people and things was enough to make Carter, who was slow to catch on, feel impressed.

Thinking about the entire process of his acquaintance with Julian, from the beginning, Julian treated him sincerely, without looking down on him, and he balanced things without taking advantage of Carter's ignorance or trying to do everything himself just because he had more expertise.

Now, even though they've only cooperated once, it could be considered a chance meeting that went well, and even though Julian said he was transferring some speculative risk, this kind of sincerity and approach was still quite comforting, even warming the heart.

Being thought of and remembered by someone is always a good feeling, of course, as long as you're not being thought of by a thief!

Realizing how well Julian had done in this regard, Carter, aside from feeling he had been remiss, immediately started learning and implementing.

"Hello? Is this Paul? This is Carter, Carter Black."