Superstitious capitalists
• Wishful Thinking
"I never, ever, ever write with a red pen -- red signifies losses," said James Park, senior trader at Brean Murray & Co. "I also keep my desk completely organized. I feel the more organized I am, the better my stocks trade." ...
One stock trader said he's entertaining buying more pet fish.
"I had fish for a while, and after they died the market didn't do so well," said Brett Gallagher, head of U.S. equities at Julius Baer. ...
Gallagher said one of the portfolio managers in his group believes that a self-contained eco-system, including shrimp that eat plants and whose waste then fertilizes the plants, is key to his success so far.
Bond traders may be even more ritualistic. One trader told CNNfn there's a bathroom stall he never uses.
"It has a really good track record for losing money," said Alan Palmer, an independent bond futures trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Meghan Collins, CNN/Money: Traders ward off evil spirits