Five anonymised historical charts were dealt to every player. The Monkey Index returned +0.34% across the same tape.
90 desks completed all five charts.
The late-summer market sell-off had rattled investors, and sceptics were convinced that burning cash on original television would finally catch up with the valuation. The bounce held, and the buyers quietly went back to work.
A massive gas leak had been venting in California since October, but the market was still treating it as a manageable local headache. This is the week regulators stepped in and sellers took over.
Surging oil prices had squeezed household budgets and retail was in a summer slump, so the street assumed even bargain hunters were staying home. Sellers were not done yet.
Airlines were queuing for the new Dreamliner while Airbus was bogged down in factory delays, driving a relentless autumn rally. A blistering run finally took a breather, but sellers could barely make a dent.
The 2018 rate scare was tearing through the wider market, but waste collection carries on regardless of what the Federal Reserve does. While investors scrambled for cover elsewhere, this quiet defensive never broke stride.