Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Photos from the beach







The same mistake again



Though the market was bullish but FRX was showing some weakness. I entered in the 10 o'clock break-out (break-out with huge volume) but I exited too early and I missed the whole run.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

The initial stop loss


Why the initial stop loss should be the low of the opposite candle from your entry candle(for short it is opposite candle's high).
Most of the time the price goes back to test the immediate lowest point it made (which act as support), in BHP we see how it works. If we enter a long position after the 4th candle then our initial stop loss will be below 4th candle.

Trader Made Billions on Subprime

The wall street journal

One trade CVH long


Summery +2.6 R

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Experiments








charts from the experiment


I am doing some experiments with my new trading system. I will reveal my experiments results at the end of the month.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Light & shadow 1




Why traders wins & loses

According to Jacke Bernstein

Why traders wins

1. Develop specific procedures.
2. Have a defined operational methodology.
3. Understand how your trading system works.
4. Be sufficiently capitalized.
5. Don’t take quick profits.
6. Begin using a system after it draws down.
7. Be willing to accept consecutive losses.
8. Don’t think too much.
9. Don’t set specific price target.
10. Don’t believe the tight stop loss myth.
11. Play your own game-avoid the news.

Why traders loses

1. Lack of defined methodology.
2. Poor self control and discipline.
3. Information overload.
4. Riding losses.
5. Taking profit quickly.
6. Poor understanding of system basics.
7. Lack of consistency.
8. Too emotional and suggestible.
9. Too close the makes.
10. Can’t accept more than a few consecutive losses.

Jacke Bernstein is the author of several books such as Day trader 1, Day trader 2,Introduction to technical analysis.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Another boring day

what can you do? when days are like this, no clear direction .........
+70

Saturday, March 29, 2008

One trade


Not much happened for me today,just one trade, didn't go in my direction.

Summery -70

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

How I calculate position size

I have tried a fixed size method, like 500 or 1000 shares per trade but it didn’t suit me. In fixed size system I knew my position size but I had to adjust my stop loss point with the size, so it made the stop loss point less logical. My new system allows me to put the stop loss in more logical point,(I mean above or below support or resistance). Support & resistance is the best weapon for day traders, I am certain that my stop loss will be more effective now.

Calculation:

For example I short a stock @ 39.75 that means that my stop loss will be above $40 for obvious reasons. As we know that $40 is a decade number so it can go back & test it. Now if I put my stop loss @ 39.85 this will add some lose to my account where price always test the round numbers. Assume I put the stop loss @ 40.10 & the amount I want to lose is $200, so the position size will be:
200/.35 = 571

Snowy March


The tree next to my window was totally white
My neighbour's house from my window.


It has been a mild winter over here where I live in Sweden (Malmo, southern part of Sweden) until yesterday. It hasn’t snowed at all this year & I thought the winter was over but I was wrong......

Position size


I cut down my position size by 2/3, probably I will make less money but I will loose less too. Now I feel more comfortable to enter a trade. Lets see what happens in the next few days
Summery +197

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Solveing my problem




I always had problem exciting a trade, so I was trying to get better at exiting, I tried different method, nothing worked, this time I found CCI, probably every one knows it, I knew it too but never used it before. I am using it only for exiting a trade not for entry. I will try to explain in the chart, how I want to use it.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Working on my trading system

I am trying to improve my trading system and last few days was working on that.As I mentioned in the last post ,my trading discipline wasn’t great . See what happens in coming weeks ,I will try to do some paper trade based on my improved system.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Patient & discipline


We know that patient & discipline are the two most important elements in day trading but I am keep ignoring them. Last two months I showed impatient & lack of discipline. I tried to find out the reason why I was trading all those C or D grade setups (which don’t match half of the criteria that i look for). Number one reason - there were mostly choppy days. Choppy days usually give less opportunities then trending days, and I always pushed myself to trade those days. I knew I was acting against my rules but I couldn’t help it.


I should have sold half of my position when I was in doubt, but I sold the entire position. This is an example where discipline could have played a key role.