The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (known in the financial world as“the Merc”) is the busiest Futures exchange in the world: a hair-raising, high-pressure den of iniquity with enough yelling, bullying, and mayhem to rattle even the toughest of hardball traders. And if you’re a woman, the Merc can be the seventh circle of hell, given the sexual harassment, verbal vulgarity, and blatant condescension that comes with the turf. But that fact hasn’t stopped a handful of talented and determined women from crashing the frat party of the Merc—and making millions at the riskiest form of trading while they’re at it.Based on author Cari Lynn’s firsthand experiences as a clerk on the Merc,Leg the Spread celebrates the hard-hitting, resourceful women who are making it big in the financial arena—outwitting and outearning their male counterparts—regardless of the alleged glass ceiling. From Natalie, who bares her midriff and records her trades with a pink pom-pom pen, but is known to throw a punch when necessary to stand her ground, to Bev, who hustles billions of dollars in contracts every day and whose sway over the market is so great that major players like Goldman Sachs refuse to trade if she’s not in the pit, we meet gutsy female traders who embrace the adrenaline rush of fast-paced moneymaking—while proving their moxie daily in the midst of the ultimate boy’s club.Hip, entertaining, and eye-opening,Leg the Spread (itself a trading term for safeguarding your position) is a page-turning read packed with jaw-dropping stories of bad behavior, good instincts, breathtaking greed, heroic courage—and the savvy, unstoppable women who are revolutionizing the market. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.