EGM Futures
This Dubai based, SCA authorized and regulated, multi-asset executing brokerage firm has become region’s leading currency and commodity exchange trading company
ABOUT EGM FUTURES
EGM Futures is a leading broker and a trading and clearing member on Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX), providing execution and clearing services for institutional and retail clients. Commencing in 2005, DGCX was the region’s first currency and commodity exchange and has become today, the leading derivatives exchange in the Middle East. A subsidiary of Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), a strategic initiative of the Government of Dubai, DGCX was also the first offshore venue to offer Indian Rupee Futures and Option trading outside of India.
EGM Futures is a subsidiary of Equiti Group, a pioneering fintech firm and world-class provider of online trading technology and multi-asset financial products. Founded by a global team of finance veterans in 2017, Equiti Group now has more than 400 employees in offices across five continents.
GAURAV KASHYAP THE BRAIN BEHIND EGM FUTURES
Gaurav Kashyap is Head of Futures at EGM Futures and a founding member of Equiti Group. With more than 15 years’ experience in the financial brokering business and a focus on derivatives and exchange-based products, Gaurav has setup three different trading desks during his career and was responsible for the successful integration & launch of MetaQuotes’ MetaTrader 5 platform for Exchange trading – a first ever, globally.
Gaurav is an active financial commentator with a focus on global macroeconomic issues; providing regular market commentary to various international media outlets across television, radio, print and online including CNBC Europe, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times. For the past ten years, Gaurav has a bi-monthly financial column in The National News newspaper, the UAE’s main daily newspaper.
Born and raised in Dubai, Gaurav completed his degree from New York University (NYU) with a focus in Economics and Mathematics and spent a year studying Art History in Florence, Italy.
Recently we had an opportunity to interact with Mr. Gaurav Kashyap and got to know more in details.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME ?
From an industry standpoint, penetrating the Middle East has been a very exciting journey but not without its challenges. Unlike more mature financial hubs like New York, London and Singapore, Dubai has only recently grown into a global financial center, and this took many years of working diligently with local licensing authorities and regulators to help develop the financial services landscape to what it has become today. From an investor standpoint, the responsibility of educating clients in the region about markets and navigating them through the associated risks of market volatility remains a key focus for our group. Reflecting on the past 15 years, although the region has come a long way, investor awareness and financial education continues to be a key focus for us.
WHICH ONE THING DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE DIFFERENTLY ?
Being a part of the financial services industry, and as a by-product of my role, I process a lot of data and consume a lot of research covering a wide gamut of asset classes. Perhaps the one thing I would have done differently was to start my journey as an investor at an earlier stage of my career. Compounding returns on one’s portfolio works the earlier you start, and I am a big proponent of this strategy. Oh, and I probably would have held on to my Bitcoin back in 20017.
WHAT DOES REVOLUTION MEAN TO YOU ?
To me, I most associate the word Revolution with the change of an ameliorating and evolutionary nature. As elusive and recherché as this concept may seem, we as humans are constantly amidst a revolution – whether it be on a personal level or a global level, whether it be the digital revolution, a fourth industrial revolution, or even a cryptocurrency revolution! Revolution, no matter how large or small, is a constant. And adapting to the changing times is one of the factors of longer-term success. And better yet, being the cause of a positive revolution and turning it into a revelation is something we all should strive towards.
HOW HAS THE INDUSTRY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS ?
Looking back, our industry has come a long way. From the Sub-prime mortgage crisis through to the Dodd-Frank act, up to the sweeping changes of ESMA and through the crypto boom; our industry has constantly been changing and evolving. This has led to heightened client awareness and responsibility over the years, which makes our jobs in financial services more fulfilling. The tech boom, ease of connectivity, and the growth of social media has attracted even more interest in our space, and all this brings more client awareness which makes our professional experiences even more rewarding.
TELL US ABOUT THE CLIENT BASE ?
We at EGM Futures deal with clients of all magnitudes and backgrounds. Whether you are a fresh college graduate with a view on a single stock, a seasoned investor, or a gold producer looking to hedge your underlying physical exposure, or an investor trying to protect your portfolio against INR volatility – there is a need for financial assets for everyone – whether it be for the purpose of investing, speculating, finding arbitrage opportunities or hedging.
DGCX was one of the few venues to offer Indian Rupee trading and with a growing, burgeoning class of educated NRI (non-resident Indian) investors around the world, this has become a popular venue for them to trade.
We also deal with larger institutions who want to tap into Exchange liquidity for execution for their underlying clients and our technology strength and flexibility allows such partners to seamlessly connect via API.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMPANY, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ?
Having been born and raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, I take great pleasure in the growth of our industry in the region. The role we play to add to the landscape of financial services is something I will always hold in high esteem. It doesn’t end there – and the efforts will always need to continue.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO OUR READERS ?
Keep following and educating yourself about the financial markets. There is something of value out there for everyone – no matter how big or small! From my experience, taking the first step towards financial literacy is always the most daunting – but once you cross that threshold the experience is very rewarding. And of course, it’s never too late to start investing!
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST DIFFICULT TASK IN BEING IN YOUR INDUSTRY ?
Creating awareness and informing and educating the market and clients remains the most interesting challenge for me. You can have the best trading systems, access to the fastest prices, but introducing a client to the industry for the first time and having them succeed is always the most challenging and rewarding experience for me.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT WORK ?
Spending time fine-tuning my personal portfolio! It’s a never-ending process!
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS YOU MAKE AS A LEADER OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ?
Being in a position to empower people and my team is of great importance to me and something that I take very seriously. Sometimes it pays dividends and sometimes it doesn’t work out – but for me this is the most important because when your people succeed that is your success.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE CREATIVE THINKING WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION ?
The best way to encourage creative thinking is to always have an open and constant flow of communication. No matter how little or small the matter at hand may be, talking about it and giving everyone involved a voice is the best way to encourage healthy and creative thinking.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS ?
From a professional standpoint, we have a couple of projects lined up for 2022 which I am very excited about – and in extension to this – I intend to continue to bring more investor awareness to my network – whether it be personally or professionally. Everyone should understand and reap the benefits of investing and deriving value from financial markets.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE’RE LEAVING OUT HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ?
I sincerely believe that everyone should make investing a part of their life. It doesn’t matter if you have 30 years’ experience or are a beginner, everyone has a unique view which is equally important! That is the beauty of the financial markets – there is something in it for everyone and everyone’s viewpoint is unique and not right or wrong! And equally important, having a trustworthy and reputable broker with a strong track record to navigate your trading and investing experience will make the process all the more rewarding.