WASHINGTON – The length of a man's ring finger may predict his success as a financial trader. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England report that men with longer ring fingers, compared to their index fingers, tended to be more successful in the frantic high-frequency trading in the London financial district.

Indeed, the impact of biology on success was about equal to years of experience at the job, the team led by physiologist John M. Coates reports in Monday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The same ring-to-index finger ratio has previously been associated with success in competitive sports such as soccer and basketball, the researchers noted.

The length ratio between those two fingers is determined during the development of the fetus and the relatively longer ring finger indicates greater exposure to the male hormone androgen, the researchers noted.

Previous studies have found that such exposure can lead to increased confidence, risk preferences, search persistence, heightened vigilance and quickened reaction times.

In a separate study last year, Coates and colleagues reported that the hormone that drives male aggression and sexual interest also seemed able to boost short term success at finance.

They studied male financial traders in London, taking saliva samples in the morning and evening. They found that those with higher levels of testosterone in the morning were more likely to make an unusually big profit that day. Testosterone, best known as the male sex hormone, affects aggression, confidence and risk-taking.

In the new study, the researchers measured the right hands of 44 male stock traders who were engaged in a type of trade that involved rapid decision-making and quick physical reactions.

Over 20 months those with longer ring fingers compared to their index fingers made 11 times more money than those with the shortest ring fingers. Over the same time the most experienced traders made about 9 times more than the least experienced ones.

Looking only at experienced traders, the long-ring-finger folks earned 5 times more than those with short ring fingers.

While the finger ratio, showing fetal exposure to male hormones, appears to signal likely success in high-actively trading that calls for risk-taking and quick reactions, it may not indicate people who would do well at other sorts of financial activities, the researchers said.

Some traders require additional skills on dealing with clients and sales workers.

And the advantage may even reverse for some, Coates team said, such as traders taking a more analytical and long-term approach to the markets.

One study, which looked at average finger ratios in university departments found that faculty from math, science and engineering exhibited longer index finger ratio, rather than ring finger, they noted.

You should forward this to Sheree.

She would find it useful in her future endeavors.

It's actually correlated with heterosexuality as well.

tackam said:

only in men?
my ring fingers are exactly same length as my index finger

ZombieKitten said:

Reverse for women. Lesbians are more likely to have the straight-guy finger-length ratio (a longer ring finger than index finger).

On my left hand, they're the same. On my right, the ring finger is much longer. Further evidence that I'm a freak.

tackam said:

mine too!

ZombieKitten said:

I didn't know people had different lengths.

I guess I never thought about it. I assumed we all had relatively the same hand shape. My middle finger is the longest, with ring next, then pointer/index.

tackam said:

No Shit! My finger lengths haven't changed, but now my attraction for females ain't there no mo, but I'm still a freak...so that says wat?

ZombieKitten said:

Freak!

Edit: ok, seriously, bisexuals are usually left out of these studies. Wouldn't it be funny if we, literally, are straight on one hand and gay on the other?
[Edited 1/13/09 8:39am]

JayJai said:

I guess it says that sexuality may be more complicated than the correlation with finger length. Ah, well.

tackam said:

CarrieMpls said:

You have gay hands. Or maybe just financially successful hands.

tackam said:

Wait, I thought you were saying that the longer ring finger is the lesbian/$$$$$ signifier.

More bullshit!

My ring finger is longer and I suck at trading.

What a waste of money this research is.
And who came up with this idea that it could be related???

good.gravy.marie.

CarrieMpls said:

Ring finger longer than pointer finger. I think everybody (?) has a longer middle finger.

tackam said:

ooooohhhhh.

OK, then I never really noticed. But yes, my ring finger is longer than my pointer. Which must mean I'm secretly a lesbian.

What about us women traders?

Vendetta1 said:

I noticed that women weren't included in the finding so I'm going to assume that there's a correlation. I have heard before that the length of the ring finger is indicative of higher testorone levels regardless of gender. Needless to say both of my ring fingers are longer than my index finger, which I think explains a lot, including the size of my metaphorical balls.

SCNDLS said:

Vendetta1 said:

I'm fucked....

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

CarrieMpls said:

I knew it.

tackam said:

Vendetta1 said:

I have short fingers all around....

SCNDLS said:

do you metaphorically scratch them in public? enquiring minds need to know!

what about dodgy fingers that curl back at the tips- and twist to the side