Why are bonds traders considered the smartest ones on the street?

I ALWAYS hear this when it comes to traders. Apparently the bonds traders are the Gorillas of the street and the smartest ones hands down. What methods do they use to trade bonds that makes it insanely difficult? I hear it so much but can never point the finger to it.

9 Comments
 

What do bondtraders do that's so complicated though? Like I know some people who make bank off scalping /ZB and /ZN on a naked chart but obviously the big ballers on the Street are doing something else?

Array
 
"Martinghoul" Bond traders, just like other traders, come in all shapes and sizes.
I did hear that the guys who do relative value in rates are the smartest of them all. Do you have an opinion?

PS. I also hear that volatility traders are the dumbest

I have a friend who lives in the country, and it's supposed to be an hour from 42nd Street. A lie! The only thing that's an hour from 42nd Street is 43rd Street!
 

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