Trade Summary
20121228
Long 1 YM 12937 +14
Long 1 NQ 2610.5, +4.0
Total YM +14
Total NQ +4.0
Weekly Trade Summary 20121228-20121224
Total ES +3.0
Total YM +30
Total NQ +7.5
Total TF +0.6
For the past two days, early TF bull leadership failed and acted like a distraction and a decoy to the ensuing bear collapse. So when price broke again sharply again today, there was a tremendous temptation to go with it and short the YM inflection level breakdown, like I should have done with the NQ yesterday in order to catch that bear price collapse. But today, the only contract making that inflection breakdown was the YM, and as a rule in the trade plan, I do not follow YM solo impulse leadership, in either direction it might be attempting to lead. That rule saved me today, and kept me from shorting into the decline. Yesterday, no such rule was there to forbid me shorting as the NQ was doing the leadership role and the YM and ES were there to accompanying the decline. So jumping on board the break today would have only compounded the error I made yesterday by NOT jumping on board. Rules are there to follow. They are in a trade plan for a purpose. The point is not to go which way you think the market is trying to go, but go which way the setup model tells you to enter, regardless of your appraisal at that moment. Stick to the rules. And if you're stop'd out with a loss while following your rules, embrace your losses. Learn to love your losses if they come from following your rules.
Dec 27 Trades & Journal
20121227
Long 2 YM 13055, +7, -0
Long 1 TF 836.6, -0.3
Long 2 NQ 2626.0, 2626.0, +2.0, -1.5
Long 1 TF 835.1, -0.7
Long 1 TF 833.5, -0.4
Long 1 ES 1404.25, +3.0
Long 2 TF 831.5, 831.8, +0.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 829.9, +1.2
Total ES +3.0
Total YM +7
Total NQ +0.5
Total TF +1.0
Trading with a bad cold is not advised. You'd think sitting in front of the video screen would not be a problem. But it's amazing how sharp your focus has to be in order to do a good job trading... even when you're trading with a plan. However, I must confess that the trade I missed today that would have captured the initial collapsing trend shortly after the opening was a trade I've missed on other days when I had no excuse whatsoever. The circumstances are worthy of note, because they remind us to trade the contracts separately as the signals occur, and be wary of ducking signals because a countering signal in another contract opposite to the prevailing trend may yet be not far off. As price rolled down today, the NQ hit an inflection point just after making a new LOD. I went long that trade with 2 units and exited one at +2 in order to pay for the trade, as my plan specifies. But at this juncture, the trade setup called for stop-and-reverse to short, should the low I was trading from fail. It did, and dramatically price was sent collapsing across the board in every contract, even though the new lows in the TF from this collapse offered a potential buy signal. By the time the TF quit falling, the NQ short position would have been fully paid for with the 2nd unit well on its way to some very nice profits. So what if the TF was working into buy territory, the NQ signal stood on its own. ....but I didn't take it, and was thus left out of that collapse as it quickly reached its first oversold level. Trade the plan, and take the signals where you see them, in any contract that is part of that plan. Stay focused and clear headed.
Long 2 YM 13055, +7, -0
Long 1 TF 836.6, -0.3
Long 2 NQ 2626.0, 2626.0, +2.0, -1.5
Long 1 TF 835.1, -0.7
Long 1 TF 833.5, -0.4
Long 1 ES 1404.25, +3.0
Long 2 TF 831.5, 831.8, +0.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 829.9, +1.2
Total ES +3.0
Total YM +7
Total NQ +0.5
Total TF +1.0
Trading with a bad cold is not advised. You'd think sitting in front of the video screen would not be a problem. But it's amazing how sharp your focus has to be in order to do a good job trading... even when you're trading with a plan. However, I must confess that the trade I missed today that would have captured the initial collapsing trend shortly after the opening was a trade I've missed on other days when I had no excuse whatsoever. The circumstances are worthy of note, because they remind us to trade the contracts separately as the signals occur, and be wary of ducking signals because a countering signal in another contract opposite to the prevailing trend may yet be not far off. As price rolled down today, the NQ hit an inflection point just after making a new LOD. I went long that trade with 2 units and exited one at +2 in order to pay for the trade, as my plan specifies. But at this juncture, the trade setup called for stop-and-reverse to short, should the low I was trading from fail. It did, and dramatically price was sent collapsing across the board in every contract, even though the new lows in the TF from this collapse offered a potential buy signal. By the time the TF quit falling, the NQ short position would have been fully paid for with the 2nd unit well on its way to some very nice profits. So what if the TF was working into buy territory, the NQ signal stood on its own. ....but I didn't take it, and was thus left out of that collapse as it quickly reached its first oversold level. Trade the plan, and take the signals where you see them, in any contract that is part of that plan. Stay focused and clear headed.
Mon Dec 24 Trades & Journal
20121224
Short 1 NQ 2656.0, +3.0
Short 1 YM 13099, -1
Short 1 YM 13101, +10
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM +9
Just want to wish all a Happy Hanakkuh and a Merry Christmas,
and continued opportunities for prosperity in the coming New Year.
Short 1 NQ 2656.0, +3.0
Short 1 YM 13099, -1
Short 1 YM 13101, +10
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM +9
Just want to wish all a Happy Hanakkuh and a Merry Christmas,
and continued opportunities for prosperity in the coming New Year.
Fri Dec 21 Trades, Summary & Journal
20121221
Short 1 TF 842.8, -0.8
Short 1 YM 13135, +15
Long 3 TF 840.6, 840.6, 840.7, +0.5, +1.8, -0.2
Short 1 NQ 2658.0 -1.5
Short 1 TF 845.5, -0.3
Short 1 YM 13158, +10
Long 1 YM 13130, -1
Long 1 YM 13117, -3
Long 2 YM 13117, 13116, +10, -2
Long 1 YM 13089, +10
Long 1 YM 13058, +20
Total NQ -1.5
Total YM +59
Total TF +1.0
Weekly Trade Summary 20121221-20121217
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +72
Total NQ +0.5
Total TF +8.7
The trade entry models in your plan should contain both a structure (wave pattern element) as well as a price level number element. Too many traders only use the latter, and have little more to go on than intuition that the number price is approaching will hold. Today, sticking with the plan meant using the YM contract, as signals from the TF contract did not come from price and structure intersections, but instead, appeared separately, accept for a nice pullback long play around 10:05am ET. Stay with the plan, and trade what's in front of you, not what you want it to be. Stay focused and disciplined. ...and have a good weekend....
Short 1 TF 842.8, -0.8
Short 1 YM 13135, +15
Long 3 TF 840.6, 840.6, 840.7, +0.5, +1.8, -0.2
Short 1 NQ 2658.0 -1.5
Short 1 TF 845.5, -0.3
Short 1 YM 13158, +10
Long 1 YM 13130, -1
Long 1 YM 13117, -3
Long 2 YM 13117, 13116, +10, -2
Long 1 YM 13089, +10
Long 1 YM 13058, +20
Total NQ -1.5
Total YM +59
Total TF +1.0
Weekly Trade Summary 20121221-20121217
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +72
Total NQ +0.5
Total TF +8.7
The trade entry models in your plan should contain both a structure (wave pattern element) as well as a price level number element. Too many traders only use the latter, and have little more to go on than intuition that the number price is approaching will hold. Today, sticking with the plan meant using the YM contract, as signals from the TF contract did not come from price and structure intersections, but instead, appeared separately, accept for a nice pullback long play around 10:05am ET. Stay with the plan, and trade what's in front of you, not what you want it to be. Stay focused and disciplined. ...and have a good weekend....
Thurs Dec 20 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121220
Short 2 TF 845.5, 845.3, -0.5, +0.5
Short 3 NQ 2690.5, 2691.5, 2691.75, +.25, +2.0, -0.25
Short 2 TF 848.1, 848.3, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 846.0, +1.5
Short 1 TF 848.6, +1.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +4.0
Today's NQ short trade, at around 10:12am ET, deserves some examination, as the failure to capture the subsequent gains as price declined was not from a really poor entry price level, but handling of the stp-loss orders. The first unit was taken perhaps a bit early, and as the topping pattern developed, it was apparent that fill was at the bottom of that pause/reversal pattern. I exited that and re entered it just a bit higher, so as to still be working the plan with 2 units. The goal of our trading is to exit half the order at a minimum profit (+2, in the case of the NQ, +0.5 o/b in the TF), in order to 'pay' for the trade with a net break/even stp-loss on the remaining unit. In this case, we were able to exit that 'repositioned' 2nd unit at +2.0. And once out of the 1st unit, the stp-loss was moved to -2.0 for the remaining unit, which is the net b/e for the pair we seek. The next repositioning of that remaining stp-loss to about its own entry level should only come after the pattern has had a further break away from the pattern. Today, I moved that stp-loss on the last unit before that further break down occurred, and, as might have been expected, I got stp-out of it as the pattern continued to form, just prior to a more final breakdown that nearly took the NQ to a new Low-of-Day, and at least a decent 10pt profit. I was already at a net b/e for the pair, why move the stop on the remainder so soon when it violated a rule I have in my trade plan?
I can point to lots of little excuses that rule one's behavior at those moments. Loss of patience, avoidance of further frustration, reappraisal of the market's trend due to price action, assumptions as to where price was trying to go, etc. All or any of those were probably contributing. But that's what a trade plan is for. It's meant to supplant the 'thinking' and instead, create a guideline for behavior that lies outside of such market appraisals. Trade the plan. Be content that if the trade plan rules are valid, and you still get stop'd out, you traded the plan, and those same rules, if followed consistently, will produce far better results in the days ahead than outguessing their validity from trade to trade, from appraisal to appraisal.
20121220
Short 2 TF 845.5, 845.3, -0.5, +0.5
Short 3 NQ 2690.5, 2691.5, 2691.75, +.25, +2.0, -0.25
Short 2 TF 848.1, 848.3, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 846.0, +1.5
Short 1 TF 848.6, +1.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +4.0
Today's NQ short trade, at around 10:12am ET, deserves some examination, as the failure to capture the subsequent gains as price declined was not from a really poor entry price level, but handling of the stp-loss orders. The first unit was taken perhaps a bit early, and as the topping pattern developed, it was apparent that fill was at the bottom of that pause/reversal pattern. I exited that and re entered it just a bit higher, so as to still be working the plan with 2 units. The goal of our trading is to exit half the order at a minimum profit (+2, in the case of the NQ, +0.5 o/b in the TF), in order to 'pay' for the trade with a net break/even stp-loss on the remaining unit. In this case, we were able to exit that 'repositioned' 2nd unit at +2.0. And once out of the 1st unit, the stp-loss was moved to -2.0 for the remaining unit, which is the net b/e for the pair we seek. The next repositioning of that remaining stp-loss to about its own entry level should only come after the pattern has had a further break away from the pattern. Today, I moved that stp-loss on the last unit before that further break down occurred, and, as might have been expected, I got stp-out of it as the pattern continued to form, just prior to a more final breakdown that nearly took the NQ to a new Low-of-Day, and at least a decent 10pt profit. I was already at a net b/e for the pair, why move the stop on the remainder so soon when it violated a rule I have in my trade plan?
I can point to lots of little excuses that rule one's behavior at those moments. Loss of patience, avoidance of further frustration, reappraisal of the market's trend due to price action, assumptions as to where price was trying to go, etc. All or any of those were probably contributing. But that's what a trade plan is for. It's meant to supplant the 'thinking' and instead, create a guideline for behavior that lies outside of such market appraisals. Trade the plan. Be content that if the trade plan rules are valid, and you still get stop'd out, you traded the plan, and those same rules, if followed consistently, will produce far better results in the days ahead than outguessing their validity from trade to trade, from appraisal to appraisal.
Wed Dec 19 Trades & Journal
20121219
Long 2 TF 842.9, 843.1, +.5, -0.5
Long 2 YM 13281, 13280, +6, +10
Long 2 YM 13278, 13276, +4, -5
Short 1 TF 844.7, +0.8
Short 2 TF 845.5, 845.6, -0.3, +0.4
Long 1 TF 845.9, +1.4
Total YM +15
Total TF +2.3
Today, the signals at the early lows were not clear, and those that did come within plan parameters failed, except for modest results in a long YM position. The challenge later was to take the TF breakout after the lows were already well behind us, in the face almost no participation by the other contracts. However, the TF breakout trade was clearly in the trade plan, and it did net a minimum profit. In recent weeks, I would have talked myself out of that trade, but have to admit today I acted in a more disciplined way. Trade the plan, and if losses occur in the course of executing that plan, then learn to love your losses.
Long 2 TF 842.9, 843.1, +.5, -0.5
Long 2 YM 13281, 13280, +6, +10
Long 2 YM 13278, 13276, +4, -5
Short 1 TF 844.7, +0.8
Short 2 TF 845.5, 845.6, -0.3, +0.4
Long 1 TF 845.9, +1.4
Total YM +15
Total TF +2.3
Today, the signals at the early lows were not clear, and those that did come within plan parameters failed, except for modest results in a long YM position. The challenge later was to take the TF breakout after the lows were already well behind us, in the face almost no participation by the other contracts. However, the TF breakout trade was clearly in the trade plan, and it did net a minimum profit. In recent weeks, I would have talked myself out of that trade, but have to admit today I acted in a more disciplined way. Trade the plan, and if losses occur in the course of executing that plan, then learn to love your losses.
Mon Dec 17 Trades & Journal
We make calls in the mini and E-mini index futures contracts in a real-time, text-only chat room. Go to the Home Page and click Free Chat Room for instructions.
20121217
Short 2 TF 826.0, 826.0, +1.0, -0.1
Short 1 YM 13141, -2
Short 2 TF 824.8, 824.9, -0.0, +0.5
Total YM -2
Total TF +1.4
It can affect you far more emotionally to miss trade entries than being stp'd out of the entries that you catch. A perfect trade setup today for an early short against the initial bull trend was signaled clearly by the Serial Sequent Wave Method. But that entry area came and went with one of those quick spikes that did not fill my entry order just two ticks or so higher. It then fell straight down 4 pts, and subsequent action failed to give clear buy signals to position long with for further bull action in neither the YM, the NQ or the TF contracts. But what about the ES? Why ignore the ES contract...? True it's clunkier and less volatile than the rest, and the huge volume often stands in front of getting a fill at target entry and exit numbers. But if it's in your trade plan, and no other signals are present in the other three contracts, you have failed your trade plan if you ignore them. And today, I did just that, failing to capture the 2nd wave of buying because I was so intent on finding a buy signal in the sharp pullback in the YM, NQ or TF instruments. Stay focused. You must see the potential signals BEFORE they arrive. I will add these lines to my trade plan to clarify my action items, and to add to the mantra of reciting the plan each day before the opening bell: "If no clear signal model is present in the preferred contracts YM, NQ and TF, be sure to check the ES. Trade the ES on valid signals, unless filling successfully in one of the others." This is a rule. Trade the rules and you are trading the plan.
20121217
Short 2 TF 826.0, 826.0, +1.0, -0.1
Short 1 YM 13141, -2
Short 2 TF 824.8, 824.9, -0.0, +0.5
Total YM -2
Total TF +1.4
It can affect you far more emotionally to miss trade entries than being stp'd out of the entries that you catch. A perfect trade setup today for an early short against the initial bull trend was signaled clearly by the Serial Sequent Wave Method. But that entry area came and went with one of those quick spikes that did not fill my entry order just two ticks or so higher. It then fell straight down 4 pts, and subsequent action failed to give clear buy signals to position long with for further bull action in neither the YM, the NQ or the TF contracts. But what about the ES? Why ignore the ES contract...? True it's clunkier and less volatile than the rest, and the huge volume often stands in front of getting a fill at target entry and exit numbers. But if it's in your trade plan, and no other signals are present in the other three contracts, you have failed your trade plan if you ignore them. And today, I did just that, failing to capture the 2nd wave of buying because I was so intent on finding a buy signal in the sharp pullback in the YM, NQ or TF instruments. Stay focused. You must see the potential signals BEFORE they arrive. I will add these lines to my trade plan to clarify my action items, and to add to the mantra of reciting the plan each day before the opening bell: "If no clear signal model is present in the preferred contracts YM, NQ and TF, be sure to check the ES. Trade the ES on valid signals, unless filling successfully in one of the others." This is a rule. Trade the rules and you are trading the plan.
Fri Dec 14 Trade Sums & Journal
20121214
Short 1 TF 822.0, -0.5
Short 1 NQ 2637.5, +4.0
Short 2 TF 822.9, 822.8, +0.8, +1.5
Long 2 NQ 2629.5, 2629.75, +2, +2.75
Total NQ +8.75
Total TF +1.5
Weekly Trade Summary 20121214-20121210
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -13
Total NQ +3.75
Total TF +5.6
If you have all four main stock index futures contracts up vertically, side-by-side
on one of your monitors, you can often see the shape of the day model forming even in the very first few minutes of the day. Today, contracts went different directions in early going, suggesting range bound trade. That doesn't mean chop action necessarily, but more likely, volatility in rapid range bound swings. With the right methodology, a market that is range bound can be easy pickin's, sometimes far easier than big lunging impulse moves in a single trend direction. The plan is to apply a methodology that is work in any day model environment, regardless of your opinions as to which way the market may actually be trying to go. Trade the plan, not your opinions. Review your plan before going into battle. Then, when the session is over, review your plan as to how and where you failed it. If your plan it good, it should contain setup models that work far more often than they fail. If not, that part of your plan needs serious work. But if your plan is good, then the only real work to be done is on yourself. Your emotions are fluid. And unfortunately, your sense of focus and discipline does not show up for work each day in the same quantity or quality. That takes daily application of determination. Stay focused. Apply discipline to the plan, then your opinions won't even matter...
...and good weeks and months will follow those of more mediocre results, like those we've experienced lately.
Short 1 TF 822.0, -0.5
Short 1 NQ 2637.5, +4.0
Short 2 TF 822.9, 822.8, +0.8, +1.5
Long 2 NQ 2629.5, 2629.75, +2, +2.75
Total NQ +8.75
Total TF +1.5
Weekly Trade Summary 20121214-20121210
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -13
Total NQ +3.75
Total TF +5.6
If you have all four main stock index futures contracts up vertically, side-by-side
on one of your monitors, you can often see the shape of the day model forming even in the very first few minutes of the day. Today, contracts went different directions in early going, suggesting range bound trade. That doesn't mean chop action necessarily, but more likely, volatility in rapid range bound swings. With the right methodology, a market that is range bound can be easy pickin's, sometimes far easier than big lunging impulse moves in a single trend direction. The plan is to apply a methodology that is work in any day model environment, regardless of your opinions as to which way the market may actually be trying to go. Trade the plan, not your opinions. Review your plan before going into battle. Then, when the session is over, review your plan as to how and where you failed it. If your plan it good, it should contain setup models that work far more often than they fail. If not, that part of your plan needs serious work. But if your plan is good, then the only real work to be done is on yourself. Your emotions are fluid. And unfortunately, your sense of focus and discipline does not show up for work each day in the same quantity or quality. That takes daily application of determination. Stay focused. Apply discipline to the plan, then your opinions won't even matter...
...and good weeks and months will follow those of more mediocre results, like those we've experienced lately.
Thurs Dec 13 Trades & Journal
20121213
Short 1 NQ 2674.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 830.0, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2679.0, 2679.0, -3.0, -3.0
Short 1 TF 830.8, -0.6
Short 2 YM 13259, 13261, +7, +10
Long 2 NQ 2682.0, 2682.0, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 NQ 2679.0, 2678.50, +1.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 730.2, -0.1
Short 1 TF 829.9, +1.3
Long 1 TF 728.2, +0.6
AM SubTotal YM +17
AM SubTotal NQ -1.0
AM SubTotal TF +2.2
PM trades:
Short 1 TF 824.5, -0.2
Short 1 TF 824.8, -0.5
Total YM +17
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +1.5
The early trend of the day is often accompanied by sharp, short covering if that trend is bull, and quasi-panic liquidation when a bear. That makes positioning for the reversal of the 1st trend of the day challenging. But like today, staying with the plan eventually rewarded trades as YM sell signals showed after initial stp-outs in NQ and TF shorts. The mistake there was not re entering YM short upon further Inflection breakdowns, as it was then the 2nd trend direction of the day, and YM was clearly the leader. I balked at that important part of the trade plan, leaving much of the eventual YM decline on the table. Inflection breakdown triggers in the NQ and TF did eventually follow the YM, and a TF breakdown trigger proved profitable. There, the mistake was in only taking 1 contract. I still feel trepidation on breakout plays. I hang back from them, even though these today were clearly in my plan. Taking only 1 contract is a way to comply with the pressure I put on myself to stick to the plan, but somewhat half-heartedly. I can do better. Profit goals are not reached without taking the risks necessary to achieve them. Keep the focus of those risks on just those trades that are in the plan, and often at moments of greatest fear. That is where the profits you seek are hiding. Be strong. Trade the plan. Sidebar: contract rollover is today. The TF contract tends to hold better volume throughout the rollover day in the current contract, and is usually wiser to begin trading the new contract on the Friday following the Thursday rollover. But not so for the CME products ES, NQ and YM contracts. Their current month contract can drop off quickly after the 1st hour on rollover. I continue to trade them on rollover day only through the 1st frame til 11:15am. Any PM trading in those contracts on rollover day risk slippage from loss of volume.
Short 1 NQ 2674.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 830.0, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2679.0, 2679.0, -3.0, -3.0
Short 1 TF 830.8, -0.6
Short 2 YM 13259, 13261, +7, +10
Long 2 NQ 2682.0, 2682.0, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 NQ 2679.0, 2678.50, +1.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 730.2, -0.1
Short 1 TF 829.9, +1.3
Long 1 TF 728.2, +0.6
AM SubTotal YM +17
AM SubTotal NQ -1.0
AM SubTotal TF +2.2
PM trades:
Short 1 TF 824.5, -0.2
Short 1 TF 824.8, -0.5
Total YM +17
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +1.5
The early trend of the day is often accompanied by sharp, short covering if that trend is bull, and quasi-panic liquidation when a bear. That makes positioning for the reversal of the 1st trend of the day challenging. But like today, staying with the plan eventually rewarded trades as YM sell signals showed after initial stp-outs in NQ and TF shorts. The mistake there was not re entering YM short upon further Inflection breakdowns, as it was then the 2nd trend direction of the day, and YM was clearly the leader. I balked at that important part of the trade plan, leaving much of the eventual YM decline on the table. Inflection breakdown triggers in the NQ and TF did eventually follow the YM, and a TF breakdown trigger proved profitable. There, the mistake was in only taking 1 contract. I still feel trepidation on breakout plays. I hang back from them, even though these today were clearly in my plan. Taking only 1 contract is a way to comply with the pressure I put on myself to stick to the plan, but somewhat half-heartedly. I can do better. Profit goals are not reached without taking the risks necessary to achieve them. Keep the focus of those risks on just those trades that are in the plan, and often at moments of greatest fear. That is where the profits you seek are hiding. Be strong. Trade the plan. Sidebar: contract rollover is today. The TF contract tends to hold better volume throughout the rollover day in the current contract, and is usually wiser to begin trading the new contract on the Friday following the Thursday rollover. But not so for the CME products ES, NQ and YM contracts. Their current month contract can drop off quickly after the 1st hour on rollover. I continue to trade them on rollover day only through the 1st frame til 11:15am. Any PM trading in those contracts on rollover day risk slippage from loss of volume.
Wed Dec 12 Trades & Journal
20121212
Short 1 TF 835.7, -0.1
Long 2 NQ 2685.5, 2685.5, -2.0, -2.0
Short 1 TF 834.2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 834.8, 834.8, +0.5, +0.8
Long 2 YM 13261, 13261, -6, -6
Long 2 YM 13257, 13257, -4, -4
Long 3 TF 835.2, 835.1, 835.1 +0.5, +0.5, -0.2
AM SubTotal NQ -4.0
AM SubTotal YM -20
AM SubTotalTotal TF +1.5
PM Appendum
Short 1 TF 836.8, -0.4
Long 1 TF 834.4, +0.9
Total NQ -4.0
Total YM -20
Total TF +2.0
When the contracts seem to be trading out of unison, almost in separate, disparate trends, in-trend and reversal entries are especially challenging. Profits in one direction and contract might only end up off-setting losses in another. But that's why you have a plan, so that at least you have those off-setting gains. Today's economic report schedule calls for a trifecta of FOMC reports, 12:30pm, 2pm and 2:15. After some initial jockeying, it's not unusual for prices to just drift. If your early trading does not push losses near to your maximum daily limit, you will still have something to risk against possible pre and post FOMC release setups, when the volatility usually returns. Keep with the plan. ...will post an appendum if any PM trades taken.....
Appendum
Our trade plan at ValhallaFutures includes a pre-news setup. An excellent one occurred in the NQ and YM at the Noon hour low, .....if you were in front of the screen... so just a shoulda coulda for me. Post news trades came when things settled down a bit, but were only marginally net profitable.
Short 1 TF 835.7, -0.1
Long 2 NQ 2685.5, 2685.5, -2.0, -2.0
Short 1 TF 834.2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 834.8, 834.8, +0.5, +0.8
Long 2 YM 13261, 13261, -6, -6
Long 2 YM 13257, 13257, -4, -4
Long 3 TF 835.2, 835.1, 835.1 +0.5, +0.5, -0.2
AM SubTotal NQ -4.0
AM SubTotal YM -20
AM SubTotalTotal TF +1.5
PM Appendum
Short 1 TF 836.8, -0.4
Long 1 TF 834.4, +0.9
Total NQ -4.0
Total YM -20
Total TF +2.0
When the contracts seem to be trading out of unison, almost in separate, disparate trends, in-trend and reversal entries are especially challenging. Profits in one direction and contract might only end up off-setting losses in another. But that's why you have a plan, so that at least you have those off-setting gains. Today's economic report schedule calls for a trifecta of FOMC reports, 12:30pm, 2pm and 2:15. After some initial jockeying, it's not unusual for prices to just drift. If your early trading does not push losses near to your maximum daily limit, you will still have something to risk against possible pre and post FOMC release setups, when the volatility usually returns. Keep with the plan. ...will post an appendum if any PM trades taken.....
Appendum
Our trade plan at ValhallaFutures includes a pre-news setup. An excellent one occurred in the NQ and YM at the Noon hour low, .....if you were in front of the screen... so just a shoulda coulda for me. Post news trades came when things settled down a bit, but were only marginally net profitable.
Tues Dec 11 Trades & Journal
20121211
Short 1 TF 830.9, -1.0
Short 2 TF 832.3, 832.5, -0.8, -0.5
Short 2 TF 832.7, 832.7, -0.4, -0.0
Short 2 YM 13258, 13258, -5, -5
Short 2 TF 835.3, 835.6, +0.4, +1.0
AM SubTotal YM -10
AM SubTotal TF -1.3
Appendum: PM trades
Long 4 TF 833.8, 833.2, 833.0, 833.0, -0.1, -0.4, +0.5, -0.2
Long 1 TF 832.1, -1.0
Long 2 TF 831.4, 831.3 +1.0, +1.0
Revised Totals:
Total YM -10
Total TF -0.5
Persistent Trend Days appear without warning. By the time their characteristic 'tells' have appeared for you to recognize, an initial trend thrust can already be behind you, and a trader is left either fading extended waves of thrust without success, or skipping in-trend pullbacks entries because they seem too shallow. The other way is to take entries at what Serial Sequent identifies as SubSequent Inflection Breakout Triggers. ...and these don't always appear in all contracts. Today, my focus did not include the NQ which up til today was lagging the overall bull moves day after day with the heavy AAPL component. Murphy's Law: the change you are looking for will appear in the least expected place you have now become accustomed to ignore. The chance to recognize a buy signal and enter before today's 1st frame explosion got away was in the NQ only. Asleep at the switch, I was left to the less attractive alternative of fading the thrusts of a Persistent Trend morning in the TF contract, where my focus was in lazy residence.
When a more conclusive sell signal finally did come in the TF contract that eventually provided enough pullback to cover all losses and move my P&L into positive ground, I felt compelled to exit at the initial mechanical profit levels, rather than take the play into the post-Boehner news conclusion it deserved, and thus left 2/3's of its potential on the table. There is not much in one's plan a trader can correct when faced with profits that recover part of earlier losses. Working your way back to health can also push you deeper into the hole if you insist on recapturing all your losses with each successive trade that begins to go your way. This only compounds your problems. It's the reality of trading. If your trade plan works more often than it fails, and you never let yourself dig deeper into a hole of losses than the amount of a single day's profit goal, you can always work your way out of a bad day.
Instead, focus on the miss opportunities and/or bad trades that got you into negative territory in the first place, not your lack of premonition that could have recovered from all your losses had you brilliantly held some specific later trade to greater lengths than normal exit targets. Today, I missed an important in-trend breakout trade in the NQ that would have set me straight for the day, and well towards my normal profit goals, had I only had better focus on trade opportunities on other key contracts contained in my trading plan. Review the plan each day before the day begins. Understand where your focus must be in order to succeed with plan execution. Stay focused. This is the discipline of trading. This is the key to success.
Short 1 TF 830.9, -1.0
Short 2 TF 832.3, 832.5, -0.8, -0.5
Short 2 TF 832.7, 832.7, -0.4, -0.0
Short 2 YM 13258, 13258, -5, -5
Short 2 TF 835.3, 835.6, +0.4, +1.0
AM SubTotal YM -10
AM SubTotal TF -1.3
Appendum: PM trades
Long 4 TF 833.8, 833.2, 833.0, 833.0, -0.1, -0.4, +0.5, -0.2
Long 1 TF 832.1, -1.0
Long 2 TF 831.4, 831.3 +1.0, +1.0
Revised Totals:
Total YM -10
Total TF -0.5
Persistent Trend Days appear without warning. By the time their characteristic 'tells' have appeared for you to recognize, an initial trend thrust can already be behind you, and a trader is left either fading extended waves of thrust without success, or skipping in-trend pullbacks entries because they seem too shallow. The other way is to take entries at what Serial Sequent identifies as SubSequent Inflection Breakout Triggers. ...and these don't always appear in all contracts. Today, my focus did not include the NQ which up til today was lagging the overall bull moves day after day with the heavy AAPL component. Murphy's Law: the change you are looking for will appear in the least expected place you have now become accustomed to ignore. The chance to recognize a buy signal and enter before today's 1st frame explosion got away was in the NQ only. Asleep at the switch, I was left to the less attractive alternative of fading the thrusts of a Persistent Trend morning in the TF contract, where my focus was in lazy residence.
When a more conclusive sell signal finally did come in the TF contract that eventually provided enough pullback to cover all losses and move my P&L into positive ground, I felt compelled to exit at the initial mechanical profit levels, rather than take the play into the post-Boehner news conclusion it deserved, and thus left 2/3's of its potential on the table. There is not much in one's plan a trader can correct when faced with profits that recover part of earlier losses. Working your way back to health can also push you deeper into the hole if you insist on recapturing all your losses with each successive trade that begins to go your way. This only compounds your problems. It's the reality of trading. If your trade plan works more often than it fails, and you never let yourself dig deeper into a hole of losses than the amount of a single day's profit goal, you can always work your way out of a bad day.
Instead, focus on the miss opportunities and/or bad trades that got you into negative territory in the first place, not your lack of premonition that could have recovered from all your losses had you brilliantly held some specific later trade to greater lengths than normal exit targets. Today, I missed an important in-trend breakout trade in the NQ that would have set me straight for the day, and well towards my normal profit goals, had I only had better focus on trade opportunities on other key contracts contained in my trading plan. Review the plan each day before the day begins. Understand where your focus must be in order to succeed with plan execution. Stay focused. This is the discipline of trading. This is the key to success.
Mon Dec 10 Trade Summary
20121210
Long 1 TF 824.0, -0.4
Short 1 TF 823.3, -0.2
Long 1 TF 823.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 823.9, 824.0, +0.5, +0.7
Short 1 TF 824.0, -0.3
Long 1 TF 824.1, -0.2
Short 1 TF 824.6, +1.3
Short 1 TF 824.4, -0.0
Short 1 TF 826.5, +0.6
Total TF +1.1
Long 1 TF 824.0, -0.4
Short 1 TF 823.3, -0.2
Long 1 TF 823.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 823.9, 824.0, +0.5, +0.7
Short 1 TF 824.0, -0.3
Long 1 TF 824.1, -0.2
Short 1 TF 824.6, +1.3
Short 1 TF 824.4, -0.0
Short 1 TF 826.5, +0.6
Total TF +1.1
Fri Dec 7 Trades & Wkly Summary
20121207
Long 2 NQ 2654.0, 2654.25, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 YM 13101, 13101, +10, +7
Long 1 TF 820.9, -0.6
Long 1 TF 819.4, +1.3
Long 2 TF 821.9, 821.7, +0.5, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13114, 13114, +7, -5
Long 1 TF 821.3, -0.4
Long 1 YM 12092, -5
Long 1 ES 1410.25, +2.0
Total ES +2.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total YM +12
Total TF +0.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20121207-20121203
Total ES +2.0
Total YM +40
Total NQ ++5.0
Total TF +9.0
Long 2 NQ 2654.0, 2654.25, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 YM 13101, 13101, +10, +7
Long 1 TF 820.9, -0.6
Long 1 TF 819.4, +1.3
Long 2 TF 821.9, 821.7, +0.5, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13114, 13114, +7, -5
Long 1 TF 821.3, -0.4
Long 1 YM 12092, -5
Long 1 ES 1410.25, +2.0
Total ES +2.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total YM +12
Total TF +0.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20121207-20121203
Total ES +2.0
Total YM +40
Total NQ ++5.0
Total TF +9.0
Thurs Dec 6 Trade Summary
20121206
Short 2 YM 13034, 13043, +7, +10
Long 1 YM 13012, -0
Long 1 TF 817.1, +1.8
Short 1 TF 819.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 816.8, -0.6
Long 1 TF 817.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 816.6, -0.2
Long 1 TF 818.6, +1.4
Long 1 TF 820.9, +1.0
Total YM +17
Total TF +4.0
Short 2 YM 13034, 13043, +7, +10
Long 1 YM 13012, -0
Long 1 TF 817.1, +1.8
Short 1 TF 819.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 816.8, -0.6
Long 1 TF 817.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 816.6, -0.2
Long 1 TF 818.6, +1.4
Long 1 TF 820.9, +1.0
Total YM +17
Total TF +4.0
Tues Dec 4 Trade Summary
20121204
Short 1 TF 822.2, -0.1
Long 1 TF 821.9, -0.5
Short 2 YM 12990, 12990, +7, -1
Long 2 TF 820.7, 820.3, 820.2, 820.0 -0.8, +0.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 820.1, -0.5
Long 1 TF 818.4, -0.3
Long 1 TF 818.3, -0.3
Long 2 TF 816.8, +0.5, +0.9
Total YM +6
Total TF +2.4
Short 1 TF 822.2, -0.1
Long 1 TF 821.9, -0.5
Short 2 YM 12990, 12990, +7, -1
Long 2 TF 820.7, 820.3, 820.2, 820.0 -0.8, +0.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 820.1, -0.5
Long 1 TF 818.4, -0.3
Long 1 TF 818.3, -0.3
Long 2 TF 816.8, +0.5, +0.9
Total YM +6
Total TF +2.4
Mon Dec 3 Trade Summary
20121203
Long 2 TF 821.1, 821.1, +0.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 821.0, 821.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 818.3, 818.4, +0.5, +1.5
Short 2 YM 13019, 13019, -3, -3
Short 1 NQ 2696.25, +3.0
Long 1 YM 12991, +11
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM +5
Total TF +2.5
Long 2 TF 821.1, 821.1, +0.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 821.0, 821.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 818.3, 818.4, +0.5, +1.5
Short 2 YM 13019, 13019, -3, -3
Short 1 NQ 2696.25, +3.0
Long 1 YM 12991, +11
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM +5
Total TF +2.5
Nov 30 Trades and Mntly Summary
20121130
Short 2 NQ 2679.5, 2681.25, +4.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 822.6, -0.4
Short 1 TF 822.8, +1.1
Short 1 YM 13037, +17
Long 1 YM 13014, +10
Total YM +27
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +0.6
Weekly Trade Summary 20121130-20121126
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +32
Total NQ +26.5
Total TF +12.5
Monthly Summary Nov 2012
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +184
Total NQ 56.5
Total TF 29.8
Short 2 NQ 2679.5, 2681.25, +4.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 822.6, -0.4
Short 1 TF 822.8, +1.1
Short 1 YM 13037, +17
Long 1 YM 13014, +10
Total YM +27
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +0.6
Weekly Trade Summary 20121130-20121126
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +32
Total NQ +26.5
Total TF +12.5
Monthly Summary Nov 2012
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +184
Total NQ 56.5
Total TF 29.8
Thurs Nov 29 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121129
Short 2 TF 722.6, 722.5, +0.5, +1.7
Long 1 TF 720.1, +1.4
Short 1 TF 723.1, -0.5
Long 1 TF 721.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 719.4, +1.3
Short 1 NQ 2681.75, +5.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +3.9
A trade plan should be tailored to the session one intends to trade. The 1st session of the day, from the Open to about 11:15am, is usually the most volatile. Today was a perfect example of such volatility, and if your plan does not accommodate a methodology that can signal such volatile swings, then the 1st time frame of the day is probably not for you. The 2nd frame can be much slower, more choppy, and often less impulsive. It may produce a trend, but more patience is required, and futures traders tend to have less patience. The last frame of the day, starting around 2:30pm ET, can return to impulsive action with more distinct trends. If you feel inclined to sit in front of the screen all day (something I gladly gave up some years ago), then you should at least consider adjusting your plan to accommodate the changing conditions. Going from one frame to another is almost like starting a new day. Leave the screen for awhile. Be prepared to take a fresh viewpoint. Have a plan for each frame. Trade the appropriate plan. And as Mark Douglas has advised, be the Disciplined Trader.
20121129
Short 2 TF 722.6, 722.5, +0.5, +1.7
Long 1 TF 720.1, +1.4
Short 1 TF 723.1, -0.5
Long 1 TF 721.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 719.4, +1.3
Short 1 NQ 2681.75, +5.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +3.9
A trade plan should be tailored to the session one intends to trade. The 1st session of the day, from the Open to about 11:15am, is usually the most volatile. Today was a perfect example of such volatility, and if your plan does not accommodate a methodology that can signal such volatile swings, then the 1st time frame of the day is probably not for you. The 2nd frame can be much slower, more choppy, and often less impulsive. It may produce a trend, but more patience is required, and futures traders tend to have less patience. The last frame of the day, starting around 2:30pm ET, can return to impulsive action with more distinct trends. If you feel inclined to sit in front of the screen all day (something I gladly gave up some years ago), then you should at least consider adjusting your plan to accommodate the changing conditions. Going from one frame to another is almost like starting a new day. Leave the screen for awhile. Be prepared to take a fresh viewpoint. Have a plan for each frame. Trade the appropriate plan. And as Mark Douglas has advised, be the Disciplined Trader.
Wed Nov 28 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121128
Long 2 TF 798.4, 798.2, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 YM 12783, 12783, +7, -4
Long 1 TF 797.5, -0.7
Long 1 YM 12767, -7
Long 2 TF 796.3, 796.5, +1.1, +0.5
Short 1 TF 702.8, +1.0
Short 1 TF 703.7, +1.0
Total YM -4
Total TF +4.6
Journal
"Trade your Plan" is not a golden rule violated or conditioned on whether the streaming news seems favorable or not to the trade signal. We take the trades that match our plan, and if they do not show a profit premium at or near the time of the scheduled economic report, we dump the position and go flat. Flat is the safety position for handling news reports. Holding a position from a signal that occurred some minutes before the scheduled news event is permissible in our trade plans, first, if we've already exited partial units to pay for the trade, and second, if the price some 20 to 15 seconds before the scheduled time still shows a profit premium to our entry. The initial long TF position taken today was entered some 10 minutes before the scheduled New Home Sales number due out at 10am ET. I had taken 2 contracts of the TF (mini Russell), and 2 units of the YM (mini Dow 30). I exited both TF's with minimum mechanical profit targets, and did the same with the first YM unit, but held the 2nd YM with about a 10 pt profit into the news. Although I had a -1 stp-loss order for that position, the strongly negative news caused my stp to be slipped by a few ticks when the news hit.
Another long signal then appeared across the board in all 4 contracts monitored (the ES, YM, NQ and TF) as the negative news drove prices to new lows and the next support numbers from our Price Number Grid. The question to some outside these techniques might have been "Is the strongly negative news now a filter to ignore these new buy signals?" Absolutely not. In fact, possibly just the opposite. We trade the plan, not the news. And once the news is out, and has had its way emotionally with price action, a countering signal might be even more valuable to us than one taken before the news. Have a plan. The news is not a qualifying filter. Trade the plan. Stay disciplined!
20121128
Long 2 TF 798.4, 798.2, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 YM 12783, 12783, +7, -4
Long 1 TF 797.5, -0.7
Long 1 YM 12767, -7
Long 2 TF 796.3, 796.5, +1.1, +0.5
Short 1 TF 702.8, +1.0
Short 1 TF 703.7, +1.0
Total YM -4
Total TF +4.6
Journal
"Trade your Plan" is not a golden rule violated or conditioned on whether the streaming news seems favorable or not to the trade signal. We take the trades that match our plan, and if they do not show a profit premium at or near the time of the scheduled economic report, we dump the position and go flat. Flat is the safety position for handling news reports. Holding a position from a signal that occurred some minutes before the scheduled news event is permissible in our trade plans, first, if we've already exited partial units to pay for the trade, and second, if the price some 20 to 15 seconds before the scheduled time still shows a profit premium to our entry. The initial long TF position taken today was entered some 10 minutes before the scheduled New Home Sales number due out at 10am ET. I had taken 2 contracts of the TF (mini Russell), and 2 units of the YM (mini Dow 30). I exited both TF's with minimum mechanical profit targets, and did the same with the first YM unit, but held the 2nd YM with about a 10 pt profit into the news. Although I had a -1 stp-loss order for that position, the strongly negative news caused my stp to be slipped by a few ticks when the news hit.
Another long signal then appeared across the board in all 4 contracts monitored (the ES, YM, NQ and TF) as the negative news drove prices to new lows and the next support numbers from our Price Number Grid. The question to some outside these techniques might have been "Is the strongly negative news now a filter to ignore these new buy signals?" Absolutely not. In fact, possibly just the opposite. We trade the plan, not the news. And once the news is out, and has had its way emotionally with price action, a countering signal might be even more valuable to us than one taken before the news. Have a plan. The news is not a qualifying filter. Trade the plan. Stay disciplined!
Tues Nov 27 Trade Summary
20121127
Short 2 YM 12932, 12932 -5, -5
Short 3 YM 12938, 12938, 12938, -2, -2, -4
Short 2 TF 811.4, 811.4, +0.5, -0.5
Short 2 TF 811.9, +0.5, +1.3
Long 1 NQ 2646.5, -2.0
Long 2 NQ 2642.0, 2642.25, +3.0, +2.0
Long 2 TF 807.7, 807.2, -0.7, +0.5
Long 2 YM 12891, 12889, +7, -7
Long 2 YM 12886, 12885, +7, +20
Long 1 TF 806.5, +1.0
Total YM +9
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +2.6
Short 2 YM 12932, 12932 -5, -5
Short 3 YM 12938, 12938, 12938, -2, -2, -4
Short 2 TF 811.4, 811.4, +0.5, -0.5
Short 2 TF 811.9, +0.5, +1.3
Long 1 NQ 2646.5, -2.0
Long 2 NQ 2642.0, 2642.25, +3.0, +2.0
Long 2 TF 807.7, 807.2, -0.7, +0.5
Long 2 YM 12891, 12889, +7, -7
Long 2 YM 12886, 12885, +7, +20
Long 1 TF 806.5, +1.0
Total YM +9
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +2.6
Mon Nov 26 Trades & Journal
20121126
Long 2 NQ 2627.0, 2627.0, +2.0, +4.5
Long 1 TF 806.4, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2638.0, 2638.0, +2.0, -0.0
Long 1 NQ 2633.5, -1.0
Long 1 TF 804.0, -0.2
Long 2 TF 803.8, 803.8, +0.5, +1.0
Long 2 NQ 2631.75, 2631.75, +2.0, +5.0
Total NQ +12.5
Total TF +0.8
Breakouts should be part of a trade plan. Some of the most profitable trades come from them. But only the best breakout choices produce profits, as the rest of the time, the market tends to pull back in from new highs and lows, stopping breakout players out quickly, and causing repeated losses. So your trade plan must provide the right breakout criteria and filters, and that is a challenge this trader continually focuses on in order to improve the trade plan. Serial Sequent provides an excellent rule set to identify the best potential impulsive price action breakout out above one series of waves just at the place where a whole new series should ensue. But take a breakout play into support and resistance, and face price action coming right back into your face, a bit like running right into a wall after charging through an opening door. We call these price / wave levels where price should either reverse strongly, or fire off into a whole new set of waves with impulsive action Inflection Levels. Today, a critical Inflection level arrived right into a potential support / exhaustion level, coloring the potential trade entry criteria with a mixed signal. The trade, had it been taken, was worth more than 3 pts in the TF contract where it appeared.
Two qualifying/disqualifying aspects are always considered for breakout entries: "Is this the first or second trend direction of the day?" ...and, "Is there significant, impending support/resistance/exhaustion that will confront price shortly after the potential breakout occurs?"
But two things might be added to the qualification list of potential breakout rules. First, was there reversal action from the Inflection Level, suggesting a solid presence of support / resistance from which price action met rejection? Second, did this reversal action subsequently show distinct signs of weakness and/or repeated failure to progress away from the Inflection Level? And finally, did the ensuing reversal action use up a greater portion of the shot clock by a factor of at least 2 versus the time any of the previous wave pauses used up on the way getting to this Inflection Level in the first place?
If all three of these criteria are met, then chances are that a further breakout beyond the Inflection Level will break through the support/resistance/exhaustion numbers that lie just beyond the Inflection Level that had colored the breakout entry with a mixed signal. So if these additional qualifications are met, and price is in the second trend direction of the day, take the the trade even if the breakout faces a potentially significant level of support/resistance/exhaustion.
Long 2 NQ 2627.0, 2627.0, +2.0, +4.5
Long 1 TF 806.4, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2638.0, 2638.0, +2.0, -0.0
Long 1 NQ 2633.5, -1.0
Long 1 TF 804.0, -0.2
Long 2 TF 803.8, 803.8, +0.5, +1.0
Long 2 NQ 2631.75, 2631.75, +2.0, +5.0
Total NQ +12.5
Total TF +0.8
Breakouts should be part of a trade plan. Some of the most profitable trades come from them. But only the best breakout choices produce profits, as the rest of the time, the market tends to pull back in from new highs and lows, stopping breakout players out quickly, and causing repeated losses. So your trade plan must provide the right breakout criteria and filters, and that is a challenge this trader continually focuses on in order to improve the trade plan. Serial Sequent provides an excellent rule set to identify the best potential impulsive price action breakout out above one series of waves just at the place where a whole new series should ensue. But take a breakout play into support and resistance, and face price action coming right back into your face, a bit like running right into a wall after charging through an opening door. We call these price / wave levels where price should either reverse strongly, or fire off into a whole new set of waves with impulsive action Inflection Levels. Today, a critical Inflection level arrived right into a potential support / exhaustion level, coloring the potential trade entry criteria with a mixed signal. The trade, had it been taken, was worth more than 3 pts in the TF contract where it appeared.
Two qualifying/disqualifying aspects are always considered for breakout entries: "Is this the first or second trend direction of the day?" ...and, "Is there significant, impending support/resistance/exhaustion that will confront price shortly after the potential breakout occurs?"
But two things might be added to the qualification list of potential breakout rules. First, was there reversal action from the Inflection Level, suggesting a solid presence of support / resistance from which price action met rejection? Second, did this reversal action subsequently show distinct signs of weakness and/or repeated failure to progress away from the Inflection Level? And finally, did the ensuing reversal action use up a greater portion of the shot clock by a factor of at least 2 versus the time any of the previous wave pauses used up on the way getting to this Inflection Level in the first place?
If all three of these criteria are met, then chances are that a further breakout beyond the Inflection Level will break through the support/resistance/exhaustion numbers that lie just beyond the Inflection Level that had colored the breakout entry with a mixed signal. So if these additional qualifications are met, and price is in the second trend direction of the day, take the the trade even if the breakout faces a potentially significant level of support/resistance/exhaustion.
Fri Nov 23 Trades & Wkly Summary
20121123
Short 1 TF 800.2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 801.3, 801.0, +1.0, +0.5
Short 1 NQ 2821.50, -1.5
Short 1 TF 803.3, -0.2
Long 2 TF 803.1, 803.1, -0.3, -0.3
Total NQ -1.5
Total TF +0.2
Weekly Trade Summary 20121123-20121119
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +4
Total NQ +7.75
Total TF +10.5
Short 1 TF 800.2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 801.3, 801.0, +1.0, +0.5
Short 1 NQ 2821.50, -1.5
Short 1 TF 803.3, -0.2
Long 2 TF 803.1, 803.1, -0.3, -0.3
Total NQ -1.5
Total TF +0.2
Weekly Trade Summary 20121123-20121119
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +4
Total NQ +7.75
Total TF +10.5
Wed Nov 21 2012
Trade Summary
20121121
Short 2 YM 12781, 12781, +7, +8
Long 2 NQ 2596.0, 2595.75, +2.0, 2.25
Long 1 NQ 2595.50, -2.0
Long 1 TF 791.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 791.3, 791.5, +1.0, +0.5
Long 2 NQ 2585.75, 2585.50, +2.0, +3.5
Total YM +15
Total NQ +7.75
Total TF +1.0
Sometimes pre-holiday trading barely gives you a pulse. Temper your expectations and remember there are better things to do with your time than sit in front of a video screen all day. Stay flexible, and take the trades in the contracts where the signals occur. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving....
20121121
Short 2 YM 12781, 12781, +7, +8
Long 2 NQ 2596.0, 2595.75, +2.0, 2.25
Long 1 NQ 2595.50, -2.0
Long 1 TF 791.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 791.3, 791.5, +1.0, +0.5
Long 2 NQ 2585.75, 2585.50, +2.0, +3.5
Total YM +15
Total NQ +7.75
Total TF +1.0
Sometimes pre-holiday trading barely gives you a pulse. Temper your expectations and remember there are better things to do with your time than sit in front of a video screen all day. Stay flexible, and take the trades in the contracts where the signals occur. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving....
Tues Nov 20 Trades & Journal
Total 2012 Trade Summary
20121120
Short 1 TF 788.3, +1.3
Short 1 TF 787.9, -0.5
Long 1 TF 788.4, -0.4
Short 1 TF 789.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 789.9, +0.5
Long 2 TF 788.5, 788.6, +0.5, -0.5,
Long 3 TF 787.8, 787.5, 787.5, +1.6, +0.5, +0.5
Total +3.1
Be careful what you ask for.... says the proverb. Today's swings were big in the initial time frame, not unlike yesterday. But today's were a bit less organized and gave some mixed entries, as they extended through expected support numbers on pullbacks. But if the signal is still good, and you let your stp's take you out, you can more easily review the price position without further pressure. Some prefer to use very big stp's when they trade. Some even move the stp's in order to accommodate their intuition that the trade should still be going their way. I prefer to set my stp's around the expected turning points, which for ValhallaFutures, is always a combination of wave structure and support/resistance grid numbers. If price breaks beyond this, the stp's take me out. Often, the complexity of the wave structure simply regenerates the signal. Fine. So what if I got stp'd out. I'm not hurt to re-enter. There are plenty of trades each day. Small losses are the trader's friend. Large losses take you out for the day, and may keep you flat for the week, and even the month. Have a plan. A plan should not only include precise entry concepts, but money management and behavior management stop-loss triggers. Trade within the plan.
20121120
Short 1 TF 788.3, +1.3
Short 1 TF 787.9, -0.5
Long 1 TF 788.4, -0.4
Short 1 TF 789.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 789.9, +0.5
Long 2 TF 788.5, 788.6, +0.5, -0.5,
Long 3 TF 787.8, 787.5, 787.5, +1.6, +0.5, +0.5
Total +3.1
Be careful what you ask for.... says the proverb. Today's swings were big in the initial time frame, not unlike yesterday. But today's were a bit less organized and gave some mixed entries, as they extended through expected support numbers on pullbacks. But if the signal is still good, and you let your stp's take you out, you can more easily review the price position without further pressure. Some prefer to use very big stp's when they trade. Some even move the stp's in order to accommodate their intuition that the trade should still be going their way. I prefer to set my stp's around the expected turning points, which for ValhallaFutures, is always a combination of wave structure and support/resistance grid numbers. If price breaks beyond this, the stp's take me out. Often, the complexity of the wave structure simply regenerates the signal. Fine. So what if I got stp'd out. I'm not hurt to re-enter. There are plenty of trades each day. Small losses are the trader's friend. Large losses take you out for the day, and may keep you flat for the week, and even the month. Have a plan. A plan should not only include precise entry concepts, but money management and behavior management stop-loss triggers. Trade within the plan.
Mon Nov 19 Trades & Journal
20121119
Long 1 TF 785.1, +1.0
Short 2 YM 12690, 12690, -4, -7
Short 1 NQ 2570.0, -2.0
Short 1 TF 788.1, -0.3
Long 1 TF 788.1, -0.5
Short 2 TF 788.1, 788.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 3 TF 788.3, 788.3, 788.4, +0.5, +2.0, +0.5
Total YM -11
Total NQ -2.0
Total TF +6.2
Up to today, especially the last 2 weeks, the initial trend of the day was brutally choppy, and seldom offered much in the way of swings. Today was like old times, with
two perfect entry signals at either end of the initial moves. Have a plan. Trade with the plan. Stay with the plan.
Long 1 TF 785.1, +1.0
Short 2 YM 12690, 12690, -4, -7
Short 1 NQ 2570.0, -2.0
Short 1 TF 788.1, -0.3
Long 1 TF 788.1, -0.5
Short 2 TF 788.1, 788.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 3 TF 788.3, 788.3, 788.4, +0.5, +2.0, +0.5
Total YM -11
Total NQ -2.0
Total TF +6.2
Up to today, especially the last 2 weeks, the initial trend of the day was brutally choppy, and seldom offered much in the way of swings. Today was like old times, with
two perfect entry signals at either end of the initial moves. Have a plan. Trade with the plan. Stay with the plan.
Fri Nov 16 Trade Summaries and Journal
Weekly Trade Summary 20121116-20121112
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +53
Total NQ +3.5
Total TF +0.5
20121116
Long 3 TF 763.1, 763.3, 763.0, -0.7, -0.3, -0.6
Short 1 TF 762.5, -0.6
Long 1 NQ 2511.25, -2.0
Long 2 NQ 2507.0, 2506.50, +2.0, +5.0
Long 1 YM 12470, -10
Long 2 TF 761.1, 761.3, +2.0, +1.0
Total YM -10
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.8
A modest day, and an even more modest weak for profits. An adjustment using a plan contingency was applied to last frame, PM trading with good results yesterday. This contingency should have been applied earlier in the week and even in the month, but is seldom a good plan on Friday's, where the PM trading can trail off as traders even out. The object of a plan is not to serve convenience, or even a trader's tranquility and rest. It is designed to best serve market action and successful applications of trade models to trend results. Keep an eye on these more subtle aspects of the plan. Stay focused. The opportunities can appear very quickly as the early action unfolds. Miss it at your peril, as missing important trades can pressure you into making more risky trades later in the trend.
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +53
Total NQ +3.5
Total TF +0.5
20121116
Long 3 TF 763.1, 763.3, 763.0, -0.7, -0.3, -0.6
Short 1 TF 762.5, -0.6
Long 1 NQ 2511.25, -2.0
Long 2 NQ 2507.0, 2506.50, +2.0, +5.0
Long 1 YM 12470, -10
Long 2 TF 761.1, 761.3, +2.0, +1.0
Total YM -10
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.8
A modest day, and an even more modest weak for profits. An adjustment using a plan contingency was applied to last frame, PM trading with good results yesterday. This contingency should have been applied earlier in the week and even in the month, but is seldom a good plan on Friday's, where the PM trading can trail off as traders even out. The object of a plan is not to serve convenience, or even a trader's tranquility and rest. It is designed to best serve market action and successful applications of trade models to trend results. Keep an eye on these more subtle aspects of the plan. Stay focused. The opportunities can appear very quickly as the early action unfolds. Miss it at your peril, as missing important trades can pressure you into making more risky trades later in the trend.
Thurs Nov 15 Trades & Journal
20121115
Long 2 TF 769.8, 769.5, -0.6, -0.3
Long 1 TF 768.6, -0.6
Short 2 TF 769.5, 769.7, -0.7, -0.5
Long 3 TF 769.5, 768.7, 768.7, -0, +0.8, +0.8
PM Session:
Long 2 TF 763.1, 763.1, +5.0, +1.5
Short 1 TF 769.1, +0.7
Short 2 TF 770.8, 770.8, +0.5, +2.0
Total TF +4.1
Again, early trend action appeared quickly, and in the TF was especially hard to trade. However, a YM inflection breakdown trade did appear that would have captured the early bear trend right into the lows....but I was not focusing clearly and missed it, and thus felt compelled to take less attractive trades in my plan.
Early trend action has been very choppy and devoid of more easily identified swing opportunities. But true the Elliott Rule of Alternation, one frame's action is usually countered by the next. If choppy or consolidating in the 1st frame, then subsequent time frames can swing and trend more freely. If your plan isn't working in the early going, chances are better it will work later in the day. This is the proper way to apply flexibility to your plan: agree to trade other time frames. But that doesn't mean flexibility is ubiquitous. It doesn't mean that if your trade plan is failing, you should simply give it up and go back to intuition. Nothing can be worse. Sometimes your trade plan will not work. Often market conditions will vary to threaten the validity of your plan. If this happens too frequently, you may have problems with the specific setups within your plan. Remember, your plan should include behavior governors. Too many trades...trades are curtailed. A maximum $$ loss limit hit per day.... trades are curtailed. First frame action chopping your out of entries.... switch to the later time frames of the day. In other words, allow some contingencies in your plan to shift its range of focus. But keep to the plan. As Norm Hallett says, "Stay disciplined!"
Long 2 TF 769.8, 769.5, -0.6, -0.3
Long 1 TF 768.6, -0.6
Short 2 TF 769.5, 769.7, -0.7, -0.5
Long 3 TF 769.5, 768.7, 768.7, -0, +0.8, +0.8
PM Session:
Long 2 TF 763.1, 763.1, +5.0, +1.5
Short 1 TF 769.1, +0.7
Short 2 TF 770.8, 770.8, +0.5, +2.0
Total TF +4.1
Again, early trend action appeared quickly, and in the TF was especially hard to trade. However, a YM inflection breakdown trade did appear that would have captured the early bear trend right into the lows....but I was not focusing clearly and missed it, and thus felt compelled to take less attractive trades in my plan.
Early trend action has been very choppy and devoid of more easily identified swing opportunities. But true the Elliott Rule of Alternation, one frame's action is usually countered by the next. If choppy or consolidating in the 1st frame, then subsequent time frames can swing and trend more freely. If your plan isn't working in the early going, chances are better it will work later in the day. This is the proper way to apply flexibility to your plan: agree to trade other time frames. But that doesn't mean flexibility is ubiquitous. It doesn't mean that if your trade plan is failing, you should simply give it up and go back to intuition. Nothing can be worse. Sometimes your trade plan will not work. Often market conditions will vary to threaten the validity of your plan. If this happens too frequently, you may have problems with the specific setups within your plan. Remember, your plan should include behavior governors. Too many trades...trades are curtailed. A maximum $$ loss limit hit per day.... trades are curtailed. First frame action chopping your out of entries.... switch to the later time frames of the day. In other words, allow some contingencies in your plan to shift its range of focus. But keep to the plan. As Norm Hallett says, "Stay disciplined!"
Wed Nov 14 Trades & Journal
20121114
Short 2 NQ 2570.25, 2570.25, -2.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 786.9, 786.9, +0.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 785.9, 785.9, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 NQ 2567.25, 2567.25, -1.25, -1.25
Long 2 YM 12713, 12713, +10, -4
Long 2 YM 12693, 12693, +7, +13
Long 2 TF 783.7, 783.7, -0.5, -0.5
Long 4 TF 783.0, 783.0, 783.2, 782.7, +0.8, -0.7, +0.5, +0.5
Long 2 YM 12665, 12665, -0, -0
Long 2 TF 781.0, 781.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 3 TF 780.1, 780.3, 779.9, -0.7, -0.7, +0.5
Short 1 TF 781.2, -0.5,
Short 2 TF 781.3, 781.3, -0.2, -0.2
Short 2 TF 781.5, 781.3, -0.4, -0.3
Long 2 TF 781.8, 781.8, -0.4, -0.4
Total YM +26
Total NQ -6.5
Total TF -3.2
Early trends in the 1st frame can develop very quickly, and if accompanying early entry signals are missed, a good section of that early trend can be missed. Thus one is tempted to counter trend trade at support zones where initial wave series structures would normally produce bounces. These counter trend trades can, and often do, provide this trader with his daily 1st time frame profit quota. But not today.
And the early short entry signals, although taken according to the plan, were nonetheless stp'd out by choppy action. Even after that, I was only down marginally after hitting my 10 trade maximum limit. Then I let emotions get the best of me. Seeing the day had given Persistent Trend Day Down signals, I was eager to short the first major corrective bounce, in order to catch a 2nd leg to new lows. It came from an extended impulse low that I was unable to counter trend with buy entries, but the ensuing bounce also came after my 10 trade limit. My efforts added almost 3 points in TF losses trying to get in sync with the day, losses I would not have had if trading had been curtailed after the 10 trade, 1st time frame limit. Stick to your plan. Tomorrow is always another day. Or at the least, wait for the last frame of the day and see if action has improved for better swing opportunities.
Short 2 NQ 2570.25, 2570.25, -2.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 786.9, 786.9, +0.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 785.9, 785.9, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 NQ 2567.25, 2567.25, -1.25, -1.25
Long 2 YM 12713, 12713, +10, -4
Long 2 YM 12693, 12693, +7, +13
Long 2 TF 783.7, 783.7, -0.5, -0.5
Long 4 TF 783.0, 783.0, 783.2, 782.7, +0.8, -0.7, +0.5, +0.5
Long 2 YM 12665, 12665, -0, -0
Long 2 TF 781.0, 781.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 3 TF 780.1, 780.3, 779.9, -0.7, -0.7, +0.5
Short 1 TF 781.2, -0.5,
Short 2 TF 781.3, 781.3, -0.2, -0.2
Short 2 TF 781.5, 781.3, -0.4, -0.3
Long 2 TF 781.8, 781.8, -0.4, -0.4
Total YM +26
Total NQ -6.5
Total TF -3.2
Early trends in the 1st frame can develop very quickly, and if accompanying early entry signals are missed, a good section of that early trend can be missed. Thus one is tempted to counter trend trade at support zones where initial wave series structures would normally produce bounces. These counter trend trades can, and often do, provide this trader with his daily 1st time frame profit quota. But not today.
And the early short entry signals, although taken according to the plan, were nonetheless stp'd out by choppy action. Even after that, I was only down marginally after hitting my 10 trade maximum limit. Then I let emotions get the best of me. Seeing the day had given Persistent Trend Day Down signals, I was eager to short the first major corrective bounce, in order to catch a 2nd leg to new lows. It came from an extended impulse low that I was unable to counter trend with buy entries, but the ensuing bounce also came after my 10 trade limit. My efforts added almost 3 points in TF losses trying to get in sync with the day, losses I would not have had if trading had been curtailed after the 10 trade, 1st time frame limit. Stick to your plan. Tomorrow is always another day. Or at the least, wait for the last frame of the day and see if action has improved for better swing opportunities.
Mon Nov 12 Trades & Journal
First, I just want to salute all our brave veterans, both living and dead, who have been willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf in this, civilization's long arching march towards individual freedom and personal responsibility. I salute them all, and say Freedom First. There is no peace without it. Semper Fidelis.
Trade Summary
20121112
Short 2 YM 12789, 12788, +7, +10
Long 3 TF 794.9, 794.7, 794.5, -0.0, -0.8, -0.6
Long 2 TF 793.6, 793.6, -0., -0.6
Short 1 TF 793.0, -0.6
Short 2 TF 792.8, 792.8, -0.0, -0.1
Short 2 NQ 2586.25, 2587.0, +0.25, +7.0
Short 1 TF 793.8, +1.5
Long 1 NQ 2576.5, -2.0
Short 3 12752, 12750, 12759, +7, +8, +5
Total NQ +5.0
Total YM +37
Total TF -1.2
Journal
Early attempts to get in sync with the budding decline with stp-n-rev entries proved troublesome, but I did keep to the plan in taking them. But with the momentum indicator TTI still pointing south, I flipped my entry technique to shorting bounces instead of taking breakdowns, and this proved out well, and showed some decent profits. However, much of the gains were no more than restoring the health lost on earlier entries. Thus, the day proved only marginally profitable. Need to take a personal day on Tuesday, so the journal will pick back up with trading on Wednesday. Stick to the trading plan....
Trade Summary
20121112
Short 2 YM 12789, 12788, +7, +10
Long 3 TF 794.9, 794.7, 794.5, -0.0, -0.8, -0.6
Long 2 TF 793.6, 793.6, -0., -0.6
Short 1 TF 793.0, -0.6
Short 2 TF 792.8, 792.8, -0.0, -0.1
Short 2 NQ 2586.25, 2587.0, +0.25, +7.0
Short 1 TF 793.8, +1.5
Long 1 NQ 2576.5, -2.0
Short 3 12752, 12750, 12759, +7, +8, +5
Total NQ +5.0
Total YM +37
Total TF -1.2
Journal
Early attempts to get in sync with the budding decline with stp-n-rev entries proved troublesome, but I did keep to the plan in taking them. But with the momentum indicator TTI still pointing south, I flipped my entry technique to shorting bounces instead of taking breakdowns, and this proved out well, and showed some decent profits. However, much of the gains were no more than restoring the health lost on earlier entries. Thus, the day proved only marginally profitable. Need to take a personal day on Tuesday, so the journal will pick back up with trading on Wednesday. Stick to the trading plan....
Fri Nov 9 Trades & Journal & Wkly Sum
Trade Summary
20121109
Short 3 TF 793.4, 793.2, 793.8, +0.5, -1.0, +0.5
Short 1 TF 793.8, +1.5
Short 2 TF 793.6, 793.9, +1.0, +0.4
Long 1 NQ 2588.25, +2.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +2.9
Weekly Trade Summary 20121109-20121105
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +75
Total NQ +15.75
Total TF 10.0
Grinding action is always a challenge as there is no sense of climax when price reaches numbers on the support / resistance grid or when fulfilling wave structure culminations. But it is what it is, and the game plan doesn't change. The payoffs are just more modest. Since I've been having mental resistance to taking inflection breakouts, I was at least happy to report that I took the inflection breakout in the NQ when it appeared. But since I had no faith in it, I only took 1 unit and the quick mechanical profit I would have normally taken for just one of two units. The action did eventually payoff for a 2nd unit profit despite the low, patience-testing grind of the bull action. If it was worth taking 1 contract, it was worth taking 2. But I do believe my habits regarding this part of my trade plan are improving. It's Friday, and at least the new James Bond film is in town......
20121109
Short 3 TF 793.4, 793.2, 793.8, +0.5, -1.0, +0.5
Short 1 TF 793.8, +1.5
Short 2 TF 793.6, 793.9, +1.0, +0.4
Long 1 NQ 2588.25, +2.0
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +2.9
Weekly Trade Summary 20121109-20121105
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +75
Total NQ +15.75
Total TF 10.0
Grinding action is always a challenge as there is no sense of climax when price reaches numbers on the support / resistance grid or when fulfilling wave structure culminations. But it is what it is, and the game plan doesn't change. The payoffs are just more modest. Since I've been having mental resistance to taking inflection breakouts, I was at least happy to report that I took the inflection breakout in the NQ when it appeared. But since I had no faith in it, I only took 1 unit and the quick mechanical profit I would have normally taken for just one of two units. The action did eventually payoff for a 2nd unit profit despite the low, patience-testing grind of the bull action. If it was worth taking 1 contract, it was worth taking 2. But I do believe my habits regarding this part of my trade plan are improving. It's Friday, and at least the new James Bond film is in town......
Thurs Nov 8 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121108
Short 2 YM 12924 12923, +10, +7
Long 2 TF 804.2, 804.2, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 TF 802.7, -0.2
Short 2 TF 802.5, 802.5, +0.4, +1.1
Long 1 TF 801.4, -0.2
Long 1 NQ 2606.0, -2.0
Long 3 ES 1387.25, 1386.75, 1387.0, +1.25, +3.0, +3.0
Long 1 YM 12844, +20
Long 1 TF 799.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 798.1, -0.1
Long 2 TF 797.5, 797.5, +0.5, +0.7
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +37
Total NQ -2.0
Total TF +3.2
Without a trade plan and a method of identifying best possible reversal levels, today's market would have been nearly impossible to trade. But with Serial Sequent, it was like a money machine... assuming you took reasonable profits and had no expectations of holding runners. A short entry in the TF on further breakdown from the initial HOD caused me much trepidation because of my perception of the unusually strong internals, especially the TRIN, which in early going was as low as .45. But I stuck to the plan, and sure enough, that short proved profitable. Adherence to the plan was also kept when buy signals came in the ES when no other contract was clearly showing them. And although I tend to avoid trading the ES because of its usual doggy performance, today it was the most profitable trade of the day. Stick to your plan. Stay focused. Keep the discipline up.
20121108
Short 2 YM 12924 12923, +10, +7
Long 2 TF 804.2, 804.2, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 TF 802.7, -0.2
Short 2 TF 802.5, 802.5, +0.4, +1.1
Long 1 TF 801.4, -0.2
Long 1 NQ 2606.0, -2.0
Long 3 ES 1387.25, 1386.75, 1387.0, +1.25, +3.0, +3.0
Long 1 YM 12844, +20
Long 1 TF 799.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 798.1, -0.1
Long 2 TF 797.5, 797.5, +0.5, +0.7
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +37
Total NQ -2.0
Total TF +3.2
Without a trade plan and a method of identifying best possible reversal levels, today's market would have been nearly impossible to trade. But with Serial Sequent, it was like a money machine... assuming you took reasonable profits and had no expectations of holding runners. A short entry in the TF on further breakdown from the initial HOD caused me much trepidation because of my perception of the unusually strong internals, especially the TRIN, which in early going was as low as .45. But I stuck to the plan, and sure enough, that short proved profitable. Adherence to the plan was also kept when buy signals came in the ES when no other contract was clearly showing them. And although I tend to avoid trading the ES because of its usual doggy performance, today it was the most profitable trade of the day. Stick to your plan. Stay focused. Keep the discipline up.
Wed Nov 7 Trades & Journal
20121107
Long 1 NQ 2642.50, +5.0
Long 1 NQ 2642.25, -1.25
Long 1 TF 808.9, -0.2
Long 3 TF 808.5, 808.5, 808.3, -0.8, -0.3, -0.4
Long 4 TF 808.0, 807.8, 807.8, 807.6, +0.5, +0.5, -0.3, -0.8
Long 2 TF 806.9, 806.9, -0.7, -0.7
Long 3 TF 806.1, 806.1, 805.8, +0.5, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 805.3, 805.3, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 804.8, 804.8, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 805.4, -0.5
Long 1 TF 801.1, -0.7
Long 1 TF 799.7, -0.0
Long 1 TF 799.5, +1.0
Total NQ +3.75
Total TF -0.9
Trading the contracts separately as their separate and sometimes conflicting signals appear simultaneously can be challenging. Even allowing this into one's trade plan would be prohibitively complicated for many traders. But I have found it essential to have these other doors open should the exacting criteria for a model trade entry not appear in the favored contract, the mini Russell, symbol TF. This is especially true if one is to successfully position in the initial trend direction of the day. The NQ was flashing a breakout buy signal off the initial LOD and produced a nice 5 pt profit in the process. But the TF sell signal which I had already called was completing just at the moment I needed to exit the NQ at initial exhaustion levels. Mentally, I wasn't ready to reach over and short the TF just as I was feeling the joy of the NQ profitable exit. Exaltation can be just as dangerous an emotion to your trading as trepidation. The effects are the same. It distracts you from your intended game plan that must be executed often with precision in order to capture your entries correctly. In this case, having missed an important short opportunity, another did not appear til almost 45 minutes later when prices were already very oversold, and momentum indicators were filtering out further shorts. Stay focused. Those first few minutes can be critical to your day.
Long 1 NQ 2642.50, +5.0
Long 1 NQ 2642.25, -1.25
Long 1 TF 808.9, -0.2
Long 3 TF 808.5, 808.5, 808.3, -0.8, -0.3, -0.4
Long 4 TF 808.0, 807.8, 807.8, 807.6, +0.5, +0.5, -0.3, -0.8
Long 2 TF 806.9, 806.9, -0.7, -0.7
Long 3 TF 806.1, 806.1, 805.8, +0.5, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 805.3, 805.3, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 804.8, 804.8, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 805.4, -0.5
Long 1 TF 801.1, -0.7
Long 1 TF 799.7, -0.0
Long 1 TF 799.5, +1.0
Total NQ +3.75
Total TF -0.9
Trading the contracts separately as their separate and sometimes conflicting signals appear simultaneously can be challenging. Even allowing this into one's trade plan would be prohibitively complicated for many traders. But I have found it essential to have these other doors open should the exacting criteria for a model trade entry not appear in the favored contract, the mini Russell, symbol TF. This is especially true if one is to successfully position in the initial trend direction of the day. The NQ was flashing a breakout buy signal off the initial LOD and produced a nice 5 pt profit in the process. But the TF sell signal which I had already called was completing just at the moment I needed to exit the NQ at initial exhaustion levels. Mentally, I wasn't ready to reach over and short the TF just as I was feeling the joy of the NQ profitable exit. Exaltation can be just as dangerous an emotion to your trading as trepidation. The effects are the same. It distracts you from your intended game plan that must be executed often with precision in order to capture your entries correctly. In this case, having missed an important short opportunity, another did not appear til almost 45 minutes later when prices were already very oversold, and momentum indicators were filtering out further shorts. Stay focused. Those first few minutes can be critical to your day.
Tues Nov 6 Trades & Journal
20121106
Long 2 TF 820.7, 820.7, +0.5, +1.2
Short 2 TF 822.7, 822.6, -0.2, -0.2
Long 1 TF 819.7, +0.6
Short 4 TF 821.2, 821.1, 821.7, 821.8, -0.0, -1.2, +0.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 821.2, +1.0
Total TF +1.8
PM Addendum
Long 2 NQ 2672.5, 2672.5, +2, +3.0
Long 1 NQ 2672.0, -1.0
Long 1 NQ 2670.25, +2.0
Long 1 TF 821.9, +0.7
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +2.5
First a comment on the technical side: I made a conscious decision a few years back to only trade the 1st time frame of the day, til around 11:15am. On most days, this is the period of greatest volatility and impulse trend. On those days, the midday frame tends to consolidate or just wander. But this yin yang between the 1st and midday frames can flip. So that when the 1st frame consolidates, a trend will often appear in the midday frame. And just so it was today. On such days, I often try to come back later and trade either the midday or Last hour frame action. But the purpose of this revived journal is really to critique the extent to which I trade a plan. And today, I did make one notable failure worth examining. The pullback to 10:30am was a perfect buy signal after the sell signal at the HOD (high-of-day). That sell signal was whippy and I failed to re enter it after getting stp'd out. And when the buy signal finally arrived, it came on weakening momentum. The support number was valid, as was the structure, and the momentum signal was no longer fresh enough to filter the model out of contention as a trade, but the 'feeling' of the market remained heavy. So, I only took one contract and exited it for only a quick profit. A retest of that same low came just minutes later, and would have provide the same buy entry signal, with a potential stp-n-reverse to short on further weakness. I 'appraised' the market as so weak at that point that I ignored the buy signal on the retest and waited instead for the market to fail that I might get short. But the failure never came. And instead of being long into the full rally back to the HOD, I tried to get short half way back up, still appraising the trend as down, and lost some of my initial profits. Appraising the trend outside of structure can be a dangerous game. It requires tape reading and intuition about overall market conditions. But trading a plan is not tape reading, unless some aspect of tape reading is incorporated into a trade model as a necessary condition filter to the trade. Define the model according to what makes it most consistent. Consistency means it must work far more than half the time. Once qualified, give it a brand name. With a brand name it can be committed to the plan. But once committed, it must be traded, even against 'appraisals' of trend that fear its success at some particular moment. Trade the plan. Keep the discipline...!!
PM Addendum. Came back in the PM and traded the SubSequent Return-to-ORB in the NQ and the TF for small additional gains to AM frame action.
Long 2 TF 820.7, 820.7, +0.5, +1.2
Short 2 TF 822.7, 822.6, -0.2, -0.2
Long 1 TF 819.7, +0.6
Short 4 TF 821.2, 821.1, 821.7, 821.8, -0.0, -1.2, +0.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 821.2, +1.0
Total TF +1.8
PM Addendum
Long 2 NQ 2672.5, 2672.5, +2, +3.0
Long 1 NQ 2672.0, -1.0
Long 1 NQ 2670.25, +2.0
Long 1 TF 821.9, +0.7
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +2.5
First a comment on the technical side: I made a conscious decision a few years back to only trade the 1st time frame of the day, til around 11:15am. On most days, this is the period of greatest volatility and impulse trend. On those days, the midday frame tends to consolidate or just wander. But this yin yang between the 1st and midday frames can flip. So that when the 1st frame consolidates, a trend will often appear in the midday frame. And just so it was today. On such days, I often try to come back later and trade either the midday or Last hour frame action. But the purpose of this revived journal is really to critique the extent to which I trade a plan. And today, I did make one notable failure worth examining. The pullback to 10:30am was a perfect buy signal after the sell signal at the HOD (high-of-day). That sell signal was whippy and I failed to re enter it after getting stp'd out. And when the buy signal finally arrived, it came on weakening momentum. The support number was valid, as was the structure, and the momentum signal was no longer fresh enough to filter the model out of contention as a trade, but the 'feeling' of the market remained heavy. So, I only took one contract and exited it for only a quick profit. A retest of that same low came just minutes later, and would have provide the same buy entry signal, with a potential stp-n-reverse to short on further weakness. I 'appraised' the market as so weak at that point that I ignored the buy signal on the retest and waited instead for the market to fail that I might get short. But the failure never came. And instead of being long into the full rally back to the HOD, I tried to get short half way back up, still appraising the trend as down, and lost some of my initial profits. Appraising the trend outside of structure can be a dangerous game. It requires tape reading and intuition about overall market conditions. But trading a plan is not tape reading, unless some aspect of tape reading is incorporated into a trade model as a necessary condition filter to the trade. Define the model according to what makes it most consistent. Consistency means it must work far more than half the time. Once qualified, give it a brand name. With a brand name it can be committed to the plan. But once committed, it must be traded, even against 'appraisals' of trend that fear its success at some particular moment. Trade the plan. Keep the discipline...!!
PM Addendum. Came back in the PM and traded the SubSequent Return-to-ORB in the NQ and the TF for small additional gains to AM frame action.
Mon Nov 5 Trades & Journal
20121105
Long 2 TF 809.7, 809.8, -0.4, -0.3
Short 2 TF 809.3, 809.3, +0.4, -0.4
Long 2 NQ 2645.5, 2645.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 811.9, +1.5
Short 2 TF 813.8, 813.5, -0.1, +0.5
Short 2 YM 12998, 12998, +7, +10
Short 2 YM 13017, 13021, -0, -5
Short 1 TF 815.7, +0.9
Short 1 TF 816.7, -0.1
Short 1 TF 816.7, -0.3
Short 2 YM 13036, 13036, +7, +19
Short 2 TF 817.4, 817.4, -0.2, +0.9
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM +38
Total TF +2.3
Choppy, grinding markets are always a challenge, and it complicates the technical messages given that one trend direction is changing to the other. What is trend and what is counter trend becomes eye-of-beholder. But that doesn't have to change your plan if you're using Serial Sequent Wave method instead of Elliott Wave. E-wavers must depend on being able to identify the difference between impulse and corrective structures. Thankfully, that's not a issue with Serial Sequent. Today, there were ample trades in both directions, and the lows were called with Sequent rules in both the NQ and YM contracts with great success. Once reversed, however, the opportunities for bull, in-trend breakout plays were hindered by negative filters we attach to the models. That means, we had to wait for short entry wave signals to align with the exhaustion and turn of the bull momentum indicator to bear. Once there, a weakness in my trade plan again becomes apparent, that is, when to shift from a quick profit mode to a more patient, trend developing runners in exit strategies. Playing catch-up to earlier small losses often affects exits whose holding times should be extended to suit the change in signals. This is one of the toughest things to handle in trading. When to let 'em run. Identify the clearest recognizable aspect to the WorkDone concept of one trend rolling over to the next, as a clear Event Concept entry model for the new budding trend checks all filters as a 'Go'. Then shift your exit strategy to include a runner with a loose trailing stop-loss until the next WorkDone / reversal signal appears. Construct the language of this rule clearly into your plan. Re read your plan with an exacting understanding. Be prepared to recognize your plan when it unfolds at the right edge of your video screen. Trade your plan. Keep the discipline.
Long 2 TF 809.7, 809.8, -0.4, -0.3
Short 2 TF 809.3, 809.3, +0.4, -0.4
Long 2 NQ 2645.5, 2645.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 811.9, +1.5
Short 2 TF 813.8, 813.5, -0.1, +0.5
Short 2 YM 12998, 12998, +7, +10
Short 2 YM 13017, 13021, -0, -5
Short 1 TF 815.7, +0.9
Short 1 TF 816.7, -0.1
Short 1 TF 816.7, -0.3
Short 2 YM 13036, 13036, +7, +19
Short 2 TF 817.4, 817.4, -0.2, +0.9
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM +38
Total TF +2.3
Choppy, grinding markets are always a challenge, and it complicates the technical messages given that one trend direction is changing to the other. What is trend and what is counter trend becomes eye-of-beholder. But that doesn't have to change your plan if you're using Serial Sequent Wave method instead of Elliott Wave. E-wavers must depend on being able to identify the difference between impulse and corrective structures. Thankfully, that's not a issue with Serial Sequent. Today, there were ample trades in both directions, and the lows were called with Sequent rules in both the NQ and YM contracts with great success. Once reversed, however, the opportunities for bull, in-trend breakout plays were hindered by negative filters we attach to the models. That means, we had to wait for short entry wave signals to align with the exhaustion and turn of the bull momentum indicator to bear. Once there, a weakness in my trade plan again becomes apparent, that is, when to shift from a quick profit mode to a more patient, trend developing runners in exit strategies. Playing catch-up to earlier small losses often affects exits whose holding times should be extended to suit the change in signals. This is one of the toughest things to handle in trading. When to let 'em run. Identify the clearest recognizable aspect to the WorkDone concept of one trend rolling over to the next, as a clear Event Concept entry model for the new budding trend checks all filters as a 'Go'. Then shift your exit strategy to include a runner with a loose trailing stop-loss until the next WorkDone / reversal signal appears. Construct the language of this rule clearly into your plan. Re read your plan with an exacting understanding. Be prepared to recognize your plan when it unfolds at the right edge of your video screen. Trade your plan. Keep the discipline.
Fri Nov 2 Trades & Journal
20121102
Long 2 NQ 2683.25, 2683.75, 2682.5, +2.0, -2.0, -1.0
Long 1 TF 725.8, -0.4
Long 2 YM 13164, 13164, +10, +10
Long 2 TF 823.1, 822.7, +0.6, -0.2
Long 1 TF 823.1, -0.3
Long 2 TF 820.9, 820.3, -1.2, -0.7
Long 2 TF 820.5, 820.1, -1.0, -0.5
Long 3 TF 819.2, 819.0, 818.9, -0.5, -0.3, -0.2
Long 1 TF 819.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 819.1, -0.1
Long 1 TF 818.3, -0.4
Total YM +20
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF -5.6
Losing days should be the best days to learn from. From the technical side, there was little to clarify on entries, but the weakness to be identified lies mostly in trade management and the mental side. As for the technical entry side, today's gap-up, grind-down vertical opening was much like we've seen so much of lately. If you keep your eyes out in at least 3 contracts, there are usually signals with which to participate in the early downtrend action that are models within my plan. ...but not today.... And eventually, a key reversal signal holds for attractive recovery gains. ...but not today.... There were reversal signals at support numbers in key places along the way down, and each gave a minor bounce that could have allowed for a small partial exit to pay for the trade. But 2 of them did not provide for any exit, and hit my stp's almost immediately after entering them. The final set of trades were all taken with tight stp's, fishing against the action which seemed to indicate a bottom, but in fact, were taken without actually having the trade plan buy signal to enter with. This is kind of revenge trade behavior. You believe you know what the market is trying to do. Half or more of your trade model is there. And your head is screaming 'get in before you miss it, you idiot'. But in truth, there was nothing to miss, so the additional efforts to position for the reversal that seems so clearly there added 2 more points to a loss that was already -3 up to that point. Don't trade to get even with the market. Better to miss the opportunity altogether even when your intuition is right, than violate your trade plan that keeps you in the better probability setups. If today is destined to be a losing day with the trade plan that works far more often than it fails, don't add to the losses trying to recover and 'get right'. And now I'd like to end with a firm resolution and a conclusion that sounds like 'lesson learned', but I have a feeling that I will need to reread this entry quite a few more times in the future in order to shake what is a near irresistible impulse in trade behavior.
Long 2 NQ 2683.25, 2683.75, 2682.5, +2.0, -2.0, -1.0
Long 1 TF 725.8, -0.4
Long 2 YM 13164, 13164, +10, +10
Long 2 TF 823.1, 822.7, +0.6, -0.2
Long 1 TF 823.1, -0.3
Long 2 TF 820.9, 820.3, -1.2, -0.7
Long 2 TF 820.5, 820.1, -1.0, -0.5
Long 3 TF 819.2, 819.0, 818.9, -0.5, -0.3, -0.2
Long 1 TF 819.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 819.1, -0.1
Long 1 TF 818.3, -0.4
Total YM +20
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF -5.6
Losing days should be the best days to learn from. From the technical side, there was little to clarify on entries, but the weakness to be identified lies mostly in trade management and the mental side. As for the technical entry side, today's gap-up, grind-down vertical opening was much like we've seen so much of lately. If you keep your eyes out in at least 3 contracts, there are usually signals with which to participate in the early downtrend action that are models within my plan. ...but not today.... And eventually, a key reversal signal holds for attractive recovery gains. ...but not today.... There were reversal signals at support numbers in key places along the way down, and each gave a minor bounce that could have allowed for a small partial exit to pay for the trade. But 2 of them did not provide for any exit, and hit my stp's almost immediately after entering them. The final set of trades were all taken with tight stp's, fishing against the action which seemed to indicate a bottom, but in fact, were taken without actually having the trade plan buy signal to enter with. This is kind of revenge trade behavior. You believe you know what the market is trying to do. Half or more of your trade model is there. And your head is screaming 'get in before you miss it, you idiot'. But in truth, there was nothing to miss, so the additional efforts to position for the reversal that seems so clearly there added 2 more points to a loss that was already -3 up to that point. Don't trade to get even with the market. Better to miss the opportunity altogether even when your intuition is right, than violate your trade plan that keeps you in the better probability setups. If today is destined to be a losing day with the trade plan that works far more often than it fails, don't add to the losses trying to recover and 'get right'. And now I'd like to end with a firm resolution and a conclusion that sounds like 'lesson learned', but I have a feeling that I will need to reread this entry quite a few more times in the future in order to shake what is a near irresistible impulse in trade behavior.
Thurs Nov 1 Trades, Monthly Sum, & Journal
0121101
Short 1 TF 820.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 822.0, -0.3
Long 1 TF 824.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 825.1, -0.2
Short 1 NQ 2674.0, -1.0
Long 2 TF 819.4, 819.4, +0.5, +1.3
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +1.9
Monthly Totals Oct 2012
Total ES +9.25
Total YM -16
Total NQ +41.5
Total TF +14.2
The best I can say today is that I stuck to my plan today. Although I missed the Double Pump NQ breakout, I actually took a breakout in the TF at that time. The TF subsequently failed with a small stp-out loss while the NQ went on, eventually posting +10 in production. So I could have taken both and netted a modest profit on the day. The pre-news short signal, taken in the TF was losing its premium profit when that slew of econ reports hit, so the tightened stp to -0.3 was the right tactic. Later buy signals after deeper pullbacks across the board did not come til after the 1st Frame cut-off time of 11:15am, which is currently all my plan accommodates. A wider trading window is allowed past the 1st frame for Persistent Trend Day Models, but the clues to that model were still sparse as the 1st frame ended. But at 1:30PM, we got a SubSequent Return-to-Orb, with TTI Buy and finally added small profit to the day. Stick to the plan. The monthly totals for October were the worst monthly's for the year so far. But there could be a silver lining. My poor performance during the month has driven me back to this journal, and I can already see the benefits to the self discipline needed for this kind of trading. Stay disciplined. Your plan must be specific. Each trade should have the characteristic of frequent repetition. These frequencies we call models. Each model should have a name and be replete with any necessary filters. Trade the models as they appear at the right edge of the screen. Limit your time in front of the screen. Limit the number of trades you can take during that frame. Limit your allowable losses. Have a profit goal. That is the trade plan. Stick to the plan. ....
Short 1 TF 820.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 822.0, -0.3
Long 1 TF 824.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 825.1, -0.2
Short 1 NQ 2674.0, -1.0
Long 2 TF 819.4, 819.4, +0.5, +1.3
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +1.9
Monthly Totals Oct 2012
Total ES +9.25
Total YM -16
Total NQ +41.5
Total TF +14.2
The best I can say today is that I stuck to my plan today. Although I missed the Double Pump NQ breakout, I actually took a breakout in the TF at that time. The TF subsequently failed with a small stp-out loss while the NQ went on, eventually posting +10 in production. So I could have taken both and netted a modest profit on the day. The pre-news short signal, taken in the TF was losing its premium profit when that slew of econ reports hit, so the tightened stp to -0.3 was the right tactic. Later buy signals after deeper pullbacks across the board did not come til after the 1st Frame cut-off time of 11:15am, which is currently all my plan accommodates. A wider trading window is allowed past the 1st frame for Persistent Trend Day Models, but the clues to that model were still sparse as the 1st frame ended. But at 1:30PM, we got a SubSequent Return-to-Orb, with TTI Buy and finally added small profit to the day. Stick to the plan. The monthly totals for October were the worst monthly's for the year so far. But there could be a silver lining. My poor performance during the month has driven me back to this journal, and I can already see the benefits to the self discipline needed for this kind of trading. Stay disciplined. Your plan must be specific. Each trade should have the characteristic of frequent repetition. These frequencies we call models. Each model should have a name and be replete with any necessary filters. Trade the models as they appear at the right edge of the screen. Limit your time in front of the screen. Limit the number of trades you can take during that frame. Limit your allowable losses. Have a profit goal. That is the trade plan. Stick to the plan. ....
Wed Oct 31 Trades & Journal
20121031
Short 1 TF 815.4, -0.2
Short 1 TF 815.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 812.4, +0.8
Long 2 TF 811.4, 811.5, +1.0, +0.5
Long 2 NQ 2644.25, 2643.0, +4.0, +2.0
Long 2 YM 13071, 13072, +10, +7
Long 2 YM 13023, 13020, +1, +18
Total YM +36
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF+3.1
Knowing when to take fixed mechanical profits versus letting a runner develop often seems more art than plan. The initial sell signals at the HOD (high-of-day) in the TF occurred in very whippy action, and sometimes extremely whippy action is simply a valid sign to step aside. Being stubborn about signals is not part of a trade plan. Trades don't have to work. Lower down, buy signals started occurring at subsequent support levels, all counter trend trades, and none with clear stp n rev signals to get short on, according to plan rules. Again at the LOD, mechanical exits were possible runners as the TTI Momentum indicator signaled to HOLD through resistance, but with the daily quota of about $500 in hand for 1st Time Frame trading, there was nothing wrong with going flat and leaving the screen. Your plan should include a daily quota that is reasonable for whatever time you plan to stay in front of the charts. Learn to stop trading when you hit your quota. You can always come back and trade the 2nd or final frame of the day, if you have a specific action plan for trades in those frames. Taking a break from the screen will do you good. And remember, the 2nd and final frames are almost like approaching different trading days than the 1st frame altogether. Best to clear your head, or else commit the fatal error of trying to trade the 2nd frame with expectations of the market repeating what it did in the 1st frame .....
Short 1 TF 815.4, -0.2
Short 1 TF 815.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 812.4, +0.8
Long 2 TF 811.4, 811.5, +1.0, +0.5
Long 2 NQ 2644.25, 2643.0, +4.0, +2.0
Long 2 YM 13071, 13072, +10, +7
Long 2 YM 13023, 13020, +1, +18
Total YM +36
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF+3.1
Knowing when to take fixed mechanical profits versus letting a runner develop often seems more art than plan. The initial sell signals at the HOD (high-of-day) in the TF occurred in very whippy action, and sometimes extremely whippy action is simply a valid sign to step aside. Being stubborn about signals is not part of a trade plan. Trades don't have to work. Lower down, buy signals started occurring at subsequent support levels, all counter trend trades, and none with clear stp n rev signals to get short on, according to plan rules. Again at the LOD, mechanical exits were possible runners as the TTI Momentum indicator signaled to HOLD through resistance, but with the daily quota of about $500 in hand for 1st Time Frame trading, there was nothing wrong with going flat and leaving the screen. Your plan should include a daily quota that is reasonable for whatever time you plan to stay in front of the charts. Learn to stop trading when you hit your quota. You can always come back and trade the 2nd or final frame of the day, if you have a specific action plan for trades in those frames. Taking a break from the screen will do you good. And remember, the 2nd and final frames are almost like approaching different trading days than the 1st frame altogether. Best to clear your head, or else commit the fatal error of trying to trade the 2nd frame with expectations of the market repeating what it did in the 1st frame .....
Fri Oct 26 Trades & Journal
20121026
Long 1 YM 13041, -0
Long 1 TF 814.7, -0.7
Long 2 TF 813.3, 813.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 810.7, 810.7, +0.8, +2.0
Long 2 TF 811.5, 811.5, +0.5, -0.6
Long 1 TF 810.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 810.6, -0.4
Long 2 NQ 2653.75, 2654.0, 2653.5, -1.0, -2.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2653.5, 2652.0, -0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2640.5, 2640.5, -1.0, -1.0
Total YM -0
Total NQ -7.0
Total TF +1.3
Weekly Trade Summary 2012126-20121022
Total ES +3.25
Total YM +15
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +3.8
It seems the real value of journal entries blossom only when the journal is reviewed.... and preferably BEFORE a day's trading, not just afterwards. Otherwise, journal entries, designed to modify future behavior, can be forgotten as quickly as bad trades. But journal lessons are not to be forgotten. They are to be ingrained. Today, I passed on two inflection breakout entries because I let myself get spooked by the action. The action did not prevent those inflection breakouts from achieving very nice potential profits. Profits I needed to stay on track towards my daily goal. Instead, the day was a wash, and with similar errors earlier in the week, the week as a whole was below weekly goals. Review your critiques. Your critiques are created to understand your weaknesses and mistakes executing your plan. Your mistakes tend to be habitual. Bad habits cannot be broken nor better ones established without a constant review of your behavior. Reread your journal BEFORE the trading day starts. Make your mental resolutions to do better at these critical plan junctures. Then execute your trading according to your plan, and eventually your behavior will change accordingly.
Long 1 YM 13041, -0
Long 1 TF 814.7, -0.7
Long 2 TF 813.3, 813.0, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 810.7, 810.7, +0.8, +2.0
Long 2 TF 811.5, 811.5, +0.5, -0.6
Long 1 TF 810.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 810.6, -0.4
Long 2 NQ 2653.75, 2654.0, 2653.5, -1.0, -2.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2653.5, 2652.0, -0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2640.5, 2640.5, -1.0, -1.0
Total YM -0
Total NQ -7.0
Total TF +1.3
Weekly Trade Summary 2012126-20121022
Total ES +3.25
Total YM +15
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +3.8
It seems the real value of journal entries blossom only when the journal is reviewed.... and preferably BEFORE a day's trading, not just afterwards. Otherwise, journal entries, designed to modify future behavior, can be forgotten as quickly as bad trades. But journal lessons are not to be forgotten. They are to be ingrained. Today, I passed on two inflection breakout entries because I let myself get spooked by the action. The action did not prevent those inflection breakouts from achieving very nice potential profits. Profits I needed to stay on track towards my daily goal. Instead, the day was a wash, and with similar errors earlier in the week, the week as a whole was below weekly goals. Review your critiques. Your critiques are created to understand your weaknesses and mistakes executing your plan. Your mistakes tend to be habitual. Bad habits cannot be broken nor better ones established without a constant review of your behavior. Reread your journal BEFORE the trading day starts. Make your mental resolutions to do better at these critical plan junctures. Then execute your trading according to your plan, and eventually your behavior will change accordingly.
Thurs Oct 25 Trades and Journal
20121025
Long 1 TF 818.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 817.5, 817.5, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 815.8, +0.5
Long 1 TF 816.2, -0.5
Long 1 ES 1412.25, -0.25
Long 2 NQ 2650.25, 2650.25, -1.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2657.25, 2657.25, +2.0, +4.0
Long 1 TF 813.3, -0.0
Long 2 TF 812.9, 812.9, +0.5, +0.5
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.3, -0.1, +0.5
Long 2 TF 811.5, 811.2, -0.6, -0.3
Long 2 TF 810.4, 810.5, -0.2, -0.3
Long 2 TF 809.9, 810.1, +2.1, +0.5
Total ES -0.25
Total NQ +4.0
Total TF +3.6
Yesterday's experiences as the journal critiqued seemed designed precisely to be adhered to today. The reversal in the TF contract was indeed challenging, but a final valid buy signal did appear, putting me back into the plus column and into my daily profit goal. Stick to the plan. Trade what you have in front of you. Put unsuccessful trades behind you quickly when-if (and only if) valid signals reappear.
Long 1 TF 818.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 817.5, 817.5, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 815.8, +0.5
Long 1 TF 816.2, -0.5
Long 1 ES 1412.25, -0.25
Long 2 NQ 2650.25, 2650.25, -1.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2657.25, 2657.25, +2.0, +4.0
Long 1 TF 813.3, -0.0
Long 2 TF 812.9, 812.9, +0.5, +0.5
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.3, -0.1, +0.5
Long 2 TF 811.5, 811.2, -0.6, -0.3
Long 2 TF 810.4, 810.5, -0.2, -0.3
Long 2 TF 809.9, 810.1, +2.1, +0.5
Total ES -0.25
Total NQ +4.0
Total TF +3.6
Yesterday's experiences as the journal critiqued seemed designed precisely to be adhered to today. The reversal in the TF contract was indeed challenging, but a final valid buy signal did appear, putting me back into the plus column and into my daily profit goal. Stick to the plan. Trade what you have in front of you. Put unsuccessful trades behind you quickly when-if (and only if) valid signals reappear.
Wed Oct 24 Trades & Journal
20121024
Long 1 YM 13054, +15
Long 2 ES 1410.75, 1410.25, +1.5, +1.5
Long 1 TF 812.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.0, 812.2, -0.3, -0.5
Long 1 ES 1409.0, -1.0
Long 2 ES 1408.5, 1508.5, +1.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.3, -0.2, -0.3
Long 1 TF 812.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.1, 812.1, -0.5, -0.5
Total YM +15
Total ES +3.5
Total TF -3.3
Persistence is often a key element to trading. It comes into play as the ability to overcome a loss quickly enough to take the next valid signal when it appears. But when it reappears quickly, its a battle between your recovery time and your determination to take the signals as they occur. My early TF losses were on the border line that separates my trading from my daily loss limits. I chose to ignore one final, valid TF buy signal that would have positioned a complete recovery to earlier losses for the sake of playing it safe. Stick to your plan. You should have a dollar loss limit for each day about the size of your daily profit goal. If valid signals appear before that loss limit or your trading time limit as been reached, then a valid trade signal should be executed. Stick to your plan.
Long 1 YM 13054, +15
Long 2 ES 1410.75, 1410.25, +1.5, +1.5
Long 1 TF 812.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.0, 812.2, -0.3, -0.5
Long 1 ES 1409.0, -1.0
Long 2 ES 1408.5, 1508.5, +1.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.3, -0.2, -0.3
Long 1 TF 812.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.1, 812.1, -0.5, -0.5
Total YM +15
Total ES +3.5
Total TF -3.3
Persistence is often a key element to trading. It comes into play as the ability to overcome a loss quickly enough to take the next valid signal when it appears. But when it reappears quickly, its a battle between your recovery time and your determination to take the signals as they occur. My early TF losses were on the border line that separates my trading from my daily loss limits. I chose to ignore one final, valid TF buy signal that would have positioned a complete recovery to earlier losses for the sake of playing it safe. Stick to your plan. You should have a dollar loss limit for each day about the size of your daily profit goal. If valid signals appear before that loss limit or your trading time limit as been reached, then a valid trade signal should be executed. Stick to your plan.
Tues Oct 23 Trade Summary
20121023
Long 2 TF 807.1, 807.3, +1.0, +0.5
Long 1 TF 804.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 804.2, +0.8
Total TF +2.0
Long 2 TF 807.1, 807.3, +1.0, +0.5
Long 1 TF 804.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 804.2, +0.8
Total TF +2.0
Mon Oct 22 Trades and Journal
20121022
Long 2 TF 816.1, 816.0, +0.5, +1.0,
Short 1 TF 815.6, -0.5
Long 2 TF 816.4, 816.3, -0.5, +0.5
Long 1 TF 816.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 818.6, 818.9, +05, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2674.5, 2674.5, +2.0, +3.0
Short 1 TF 814.8, -0.2
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.2
The 1st frame of the day was choppy, but manage to stick to the trade plan pretty closely. The trade summary does not show another short near the early HOD at 818.9, around 10:08am ET, because I was not able to post that trade call in advance. So the actual net for TF was +2.0 on the day. But I do not track trades I don't post in advance, and as a rule, do NOT take any trades I do not post first. I don't believe this would be fair for the chat room or my track record. Today was just very choppy, and at times tested your stp-loss management.
There was one interesting phenom worth noting for the journal. At the end of the 1st frame, around 11:20am ET, all contracts were making new LOD's Low-of-Day). The TF had just earlier given a breakdown short signal to go with the move on a sell-stp, to possibly break the low of the day. But the short I took was showing nearly no profit. In another minute or so, the ES YM and NQ were all giving buy signals, even though the TF wasn't. I tightened the TF stp-loss on the short position to just -0.2 risk, which acknowledged those other buy signals, but I didn't take the extra step of buying any one of those other three contracts. This was a rule violation. "Consider trades in all the other contracts." It made on difference that I was still short the TF, in fact, all the more so that I should have taken the long trade BECAUSE I was short the NQ. Although the end of the 1st frame had already come, I do not have a strict rule to take NO further trades after exactly 11:15am ET. Those lows held nicely by the other contracts and produced very trade-worthy rally. It's a parallel to feeling unable to take a trade because of doubt or dread at signaled turning point that you are often unable to take a trade from your plan when the action of the market has worn you out with stp-outs from earlier trades. If the action is wearing you out, it's probably doing something very similar to everyone else, and a good turning point is very likely at hand. ...a small variation on one of Murphy's Law.
Long 2 TF 816.1, 816.0, +0.5, +1.0,
Short 1 TF 815.6, -0.5
Long 2 TF 816.4, 816.3, -0.5, +0.5
Long 1 TF 816.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 818.6, 818.9, +05, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2674.5, 2674.5, +2.0, +3.0
Short 1 TF 814.8, -0.2
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.2
The 1st frame of the day was choppy, but manage to stick to the trade plan pretty closely. The trade summary does not show another short near the early HOD at 818.9, around 10:08am ET, because I was not able to post that trade call in advance. So the actual net for TF was +2.0 on the day. But I do not track trades I don't post in advance, and as a rule, do NOT take any trades I do not post first. I don't believe this would be fair for the chat room or my track record. Today was just very choppy, and at times tested your stp-loss management.
There was one interesting phenom worth noting for the journal. At the end of the 1st frame, around 11:20am ET, all contracts were making new LOD's Low-of-Day). The TF had just earlier given a breakdown short signal to go with the move on a sell-stp, to possibly break the low of the day. But the short I took was showing nearly no profit. In another minute or so, the ES YM and NQ were all giving buy signals, even though the TF wasn't. I tightened the TF stp-loss on the short position to just -0.2 risk, which acknowledged those other buy signals, but I didn't take the extra step of buying any one of those other three contracts. This was a rule violation. "Consider trades in all the other contracts." It made on difference that I was still short the TF, in fact, all the more so that I should have taken the long trade BECAUSE I was short the NQ. Although the end of the 1st frame had already come, I do not have a strict rule to take NO further trades after exactly 11:15am ET. Those lows held nicely by the other contracts and produced very trade-worthy rally. It's a parallel to feeling unable to take a trade because of doubt or dread at signaled turning point that you are often unable to take a trade from your plan when the action of the market has worn you out with stp-outs from earlier trades. If the action is wearing you out, it's probably doing something very similar to everyone else, and a good turning point is very likely at hand. ...a small variation on one of Murphy's Law.
Fri Oct 19 vacation day, Weekly Summary
Weekly Trade Summary 2012119-20121015
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -14
Total NQ +10.0
Total TF +4.1
20121019
no trades, vacation day
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -14
Total NQ +10.0
Total TF +4.1
20121019
no trades, vacation day
Thurs Oct 18 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121018
Long 2 TF 838.0, 838.0, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 839.2, +1.2
Long 1 TF 838.7, -0.2
Long 1 TF 837.9, -0.5
Short 1 TF 837.5, +1.5
Total TF +3.5
The effect of earlier journal posts on the subject of commitment to breakouts in trade plan seems to have paid off today. A bull signal breakout as pre-Philly Fed econ report positioning paid off well, as well as a bear breakdown signal after the news had subsided. Good results both directions and at least a decent return for the morning session. Before the day begins, clear your mind. Review the trade plan. Focus on recognizing what's in front of you. It's not about figuring out the market. Leave that to intuitive traders who prognosticate. We are not tape readers, we are traders. We trade from the right edge of the video screen as elements of our trade plan appear. Trade the plan, not our intuition nor our emotions.
20121018
Long 2 TF 838.0, 838.0, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 839.2, +1.2
Long 1 TF 838.7, -0.2
Long 1 TF 837.9, -0.5
Short 1 TF 837.5, +1.5
Total TF +3.5
The effect of earlier journal posts on the subject of commitment to breakouts in trade plan seems to have paid off today. A bull signal breakout as pre-Philly Fed econ report positioning paid off well, as well as a bear breakdown signal after the news had subsided. Good results both directions and at least a decent return for the morning session. Before the day begins, clear your mind. Review the trade plan. Focus on recognizing what's in front of you. It's not about figuring out the market. Leave that to intuitive traders who prognosticate. We are not tape readers, we are traders. We trade from the right edge of the video screen as elements of our trade plan appear. Trade the plan, not our intuition nor our emotions.
Wed Oct 17 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121017
Short 3 TF 834.4, 834.6, 834.9, -1.0, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 NQ 2763.25, 2763.25, -1.5, -1.5
Short 2 TF 835.9, 835.8, +0.6, -0.6
Short 1 NQ 2769.75, -2.0
Short 2 YM 13478, 13478, -7, -7
Short 3 TF 839.0, 839.2, 839.6, +1.0, -0.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 840.4, +2.0
Total NQ -5.0
Total YM -14
Total TF +2.2
Recent days have really put the pressure on the weakest aspect of my trading, namely, breakouts. The missed breakout today came in early going, and was the 1st Substitute
Sequent Inflection breakout. This usually comes with very short notice, and requires instant response. You must see your opportunities unfold according to your trade plan. Be ready. When the action is fast, you must already be thinking at least 1 to 2 plays in advance. "If such-n-such happens.... I do this and that." If it's in your plan, there's no reason to hesitate. You will never be able to figure it out any better by watching it go by, or determine if conditions are just right first to take the play. This is all 2nd guessing and 'tape reading' intuition. Go back to the plan. Is the model specified sufficiently? Does it deserve another filter as a pre-condition to enter the order? If so, pull it from the plan until you've sufficiently tested that needed filter to determine its validity. If not, then the model is ready to commit to. Commit to the plan. This is not about feelings. It's about repetition and recognition. It's about focus and commitment.
20121017
Short 3 TF 834.4, 834.6, 834.9, -1.0, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 NQ 2763.25, 2763.25, -1.5, -1.5
Short 2 TF 835.9, 835.8, +0.6, -0.6
Short 1 NQ 2769.75, -2.0
Short 2 YM 13478, 13478, -7, -7
Short 3 TF 839.0, 839.2, 839.6, +1.0, -0.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 840.4, +2.0
Total NQ -5.0
Total YM -14
Total TF +2.2
Recent days have really put the pressure on the weakest aspect of my trading, namely, breakouts. The missed breakout today came in early going, and was the 1st Substitute
Sequent Inflection breakout. This usually comes with very short notice, and requires instant response. You must see your opportunities unfold according to your trade plan. Be ready. When the action is fast, you must already be thinking at least 1 to 2 plays in advance. "If such-n-such happens.... I do this and that." If it's in your plan, there's no reason to hesitate. You will never be able to figure it out any better by watching it go by, or determine if conditions are just right first to take the play. This is all 2nd guessing and 'tape reading' intuition. Go back to the plan. Is the model specified sufficiently? Does it deserve another filter as a pre-condition to enter the order? If so, pull it from the plan until you've sufficiently tested that needed filter to determine its validity. If not, then the model is ready to commit to. Commit to the plan. This is not about feelings. It's about repetition and recognition. It's about focus and commitment.
Tues Oct 16 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121016
Short 1 ES 1444.5, -1.0
Short 1 TF 831.2, -0.7
Short 2 TF 831.6, 831.6, -0.5, -0.5
Short 3 NQ 2748.5, 2748.0, 2748.75, +1.0, +2.0, +2.0
Short 2 TF 831.7, 831.7, -0.3, -0.5
Total ES -1.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF -1.6
With nearly no valid ES or YM setups this morning, and the TF turns very hard to find in sharp whipsaw action, the NQ was the best play. The early resistance area provided a decent short entry, but became stp-n-reverse back to long on breakout. And even though that breakout fell within my trade plan scope, my trepidation at following solo NQ leaderhip to higher highs kept me out of the trade. There was no good reason for this. The NQ often leads. I let the heavy TF divergence affect my decisions, and perhaps to some degree this has validity. But when the TF hit a 2nd support and exhaustion level on its deep pullback from the highs, setting it up to support NQ bull efforts with a bounce of its own, while the NQ continued to build for the breakout, the whole market was staged like a rocket ship on the launch pad ready to explode. I stood there like a deer caught in the high beams and let it go on without me. By the noon hour, the NQ was some 25 pts higher. My trade plan does not include solo YM or ES breakout plays, but does include NQ and TF. So will add and clarify this filter to the plan: "When the breakout trigger is approaching in a contract associated with secondary leadership, weigh this as a filter: has the usual TF leadership finished with its pullback action and now ready to support a secondary leader in a breakout play? If so, go with the breakout and secondary leader." Do not hesitate. Trade the plan.
20121016
Short 1 ES 1444.5, -1.0
Short 1 TF 831.2, -0.7
Short 2 TF 831.6, 831.6, -0.5, -0.5
Short 3 NQ 2748.5, 2748.0, 2748.75, +1.0, +2.0, +2.0
Short 2 TF 831.7, 831.7, -0.3, -0.5
Total ES -1.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF -1.6
With nearly no valid ES or YM setups this morning, and the TF turns very hard to find in sharp whipsaw action, the NQ was the best play. The early resistance area provided a decent short entry, but became stp-n-reverse back to long on breakout. And even though that breakout fell within my trade plan scope, my trepidation at following solo NQ leaderhip to higher highs kept me out of the trade. There was no good reason for this. The NQ often leads. I let the heavy TF divergence affect my decisions, and perhaps to some degree this has validity. But when the TF hit a 2nd support and exhaustion level on its deep pullback from the highs, setting it up to support NQ bull efforts with a bounce of its own, while the NQ continued to build for the breakout, the whole market was staged like a rocket ship on the launch pad ready to explode. I stood there like a deer caught in the high beams and let it go on without me. By the noon hour, the NQ was some 25 pts higher. My trade plan does not include solo YM or ES breakout plays, but does include NQ and TF. So will add and clarify this filter to the plan: "When the breakout trigger is approaching in a contract associated with secondary leadership, weigh this as a filter: has the usual TF leadership finished with its pullback action and now ready to support a secondary leader in a breakout play? If so, go with the breakout and secondary leader." Do not hesitate. Trade the plan.
Mon Oct 15 Trades & Journal
Trade Summary
20121015
Long 2 TF 820.5, 819.6, -1.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 819.6, 819.7, +1.0, +0.5
Long 1 TF 819.6, -0.2
Long 2 NQ 2716.50, 2716.50, +2.0, +3.0
Long 1 NQ 2715.50, +5.0
Long 2 NQ 2714.0, 2714.0, -1.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2712.5, 2712.5, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 ES 1422.75, 1422.75, +1.0, +2.0
Total ES +3.0
Total NQ +10.0
Total TF -0.9
Early TF loss was due to early entry before support number was hit. Re entry when that finally arrived was correct adjustment. Not all support numbers are reached on wave signals, so no blame to trade plan there. Exact entries always a bit subjective, and can't be helped without undue rigidity to trade commitments.
Today, stuck better to rules that were ignored on last Friday. "Consider all contracts." That put me into the ES at the LOD where signals in the TF and NQ were scant. Second trend direction breakout signals did appear across the board, but all after the 11:15am 1st Frame cut-off, so ignoring them was also correct plan adherence.
Have added further time frames to Serial Sequent studies. But like all potential new decision support, months of review required before any changes / additions to trade plan.
20121015
Long 2 TF 820.5, 819.6, -1.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 819.6, 819.7, +1.0, +0.5
Long 1 TF 819.6, -0.2
Long 2 NQ 2716.50, 2716.50, +2.0, +3.0
Long 1 NQ 2715.50, +5.0
Long 2 NQ 2714.0, 2714.0, -1.0, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2712.5, 2712.5, +2.0, -0.0
Long 2 ES 1422.75, 1422.75, +1.0, +2.0
Total ES +3.0
Total NQ +10.0
Total TF -0.9
Early TF loss was due to early entry before support number was hit. Re entry when that finally arrived was correct adjustment. Not all support numbers are reached on wave signals, so no blame to trade plan there. Exact entries always a bit subjective, and can't be helped without undue rigidity to trade commitments.
Today, stuck better to rules that were ignored on last Friday. "Consider all contracts." That put me into the ES at the LOD where signals in the TF and NQ were scant. Second trend direction breakout signals did appear across the board, but all after the 11:15am 1st Frame cut-off, so ignoring them was also correct plan adherence.
Have added further time frames to Serial Sequent studies. But like all potential new decision support, months of review required before any changes / additions to trade plan.
Fri Oct 12 Weekly Trades & Today's Journal
The past 2 or more weeks have produced less than satisfactory results. We don't risk trading mini Russell futures for a net profit of +1.6 pts. It's time again to focus on the Trade Plan, and consider whether or not it is being followed. Today, the early Test-n-Reject sell-off completed no buy signals in the TF, NQ or YM contracts, and yet there was a clear buy signal at support in the ES. So this aspect of my Trade Plan must be reiterated: "Consider All Four Contracts." I have eight monitors (perhaps overkill), so no excuse for not being able to see them nearly side-by-side across my market view. Next item was a Trade Plan Violation. I was short 2 YM contracts near the 9:55am ET prelim economic reports without showing a profit premium just prior to the news. My plan calls for a hasty exit to any position taken before the news that is not showing a profit in the remaining position, and a profitable exit of 1 of those contracts, if 2 positions were taken. Today, I violated the rules on both counts. I failed to exit one of the 2 positions when an initial profit appeared, and I failed to exit the 2nd position when it came back up to my entry price just prior to the actual news announcement. Consequently, I lost unnecessarily in both. "Follow your rules. They should be specified in an exacting manner. Don't worry about what opportunities you might miss. The rules prevent you from undue damage. Respect the rules and the rules will respect your capital."
Next, I failed to take breakout signals post-news on inflection signals when they appeared in 3 of 4 contracts. Perhaps I felt frozen out of further action by having been caught short in the earlier trade. "Take the trades as you see them, where your plan calls for them. Be alert and shake off your mistakes and your stp-outs quickly from previous trades."
20121012
Short 2 YM 13296, 13298, -12, -14
Short 1 TF 826.7, -0.5
Short 2 TF 828.7, 829.0, -0.7, -0.4
Long 2 ES 1428.75, 1428.75, +1.0, +1.0
Total YM -26
Total ES +2.0
Total TF -1.6
Weekly Trade Summary 2012112-20121008
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -40
Total NQ +23.75
Total TF +1.6
Next, I failed to take breakout signals post-news on inflection signals when they appeared in 3 of 4 contracts. Perhaps I felt frozen out of further action by having been caught short in the earlier trade. "Take the trades as you see them, where your plan calls for them. Be alert and shake off your mistakes and your stp-outs quickly from previous trades."
20121012
Short 2 YM 13296, 13298, -12, -14
Short 1 TF 826.7, -0.5
Short 2 TF 828.7, 829.0, -0.7, -0.4
Long 2 ES 1428.75, 1428.75, +1.0, +1.0
Total YM -26
Total ES +2.0
Total TF -1.6
Weekly Trade Summary 2012112-20121008
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -40
Total NQ +23.75
Total TF +1.6
Thurs Oct 11 Trade Summary
20121011
Long 1 NQ 2735.75, +4.0
Long 1 TF 829.2, +0.9
Short 2 YM 13335, 13340, -7, +5
Short 2 YM 13355, 13356, -5, +5
Short 1 TF 833.4, +0.8
Total NQ +4.0
Total YM -2
Total TF +1.7
Long 1 NQ 2735.75, +4.0
Long 1 TF 829.2, +0.9
Short 2 YM 13335, 13340, -7, +5
Short 2 YM 13355, 13356, -5, +5
Short 1 TF 833.4, +0.8
Total NQ +4.0
Total YM -2
Total TF +1.7
Wed Oct 10 Trade Summary
20121010
Short 1 NQ 2733.25, -1.0
Short 2 NQ 2740.5, 2740.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 827.7, +1.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +1.0
Short 1 NQ 2733.25, -1.0
Short 2 NQ 2740.5, 2740.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 827.7, +1.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +1.0
Tues Oct 9 Trade Summary
20121009
Long 1 TF 834.3, -0.3
Long 2 TF 833.0, 833.2, +1.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 827.8, -0.7
Long 1 TF 826.8, -0.4
Total TF +0.8
Long 1 TF 834.3, -0.3
Long 2 TF 833.0, 833.2, +1.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 827.8, -0.7
Long 1 TF 826.8, -0.4
Total TF +0.8
Mon Oct 8 Trade Summary
20121008
Short 2 NQ 2790.75, 2790.75, +2.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 835.8, -1.0
Short 2 NQ 2795.25, 2795.25, +2.0, +11.25
Short 3 TF 837.5, 837.3, 837.2, +2.5, +0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +14.75
Total TF +2.5
Short 2 NQ 2790.75, 2790.75, +2.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 835.8, -1.0
Short 2 NQ 2795.25, 2795.25, +2.0, +11.25
Short 3 TF 837.5, 837.3, 837.2, +2.5, +0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +14.75
Total TF +2.5
Fri Oct 5 Weekly Trade Summary
20121005
Long 1 TF 845.3, -.5
Short 1 TF 844.9, -0.4
Short 2836.5, 2836.75, +2, +3.0
Short 2 TF 848.8, 848.8, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 TF 850.0, 850.7, -1.0, -0.3
Short 2 TF 851.9, 851.9, +0.5, +1.3
Short 2 YM 13594, 13594, -3, -3
Long 2 NQ 2828.0, 2828.0, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 NQ 2727.75, 2727.5, -1.75, -1.5
Long 1 NQ 2819.50, -1.0
Long 2 TF 846.4, 846.3, -0.4, -0.3,
Total YM -6
Total NQ -0.25
Total TF -1.7
Weekly Trade Summary 2012105-20121001
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -12
Total NQ -.25
Total TF +1.6
Long 1 TF 845.3, -.5
Short 1 TF 844.9, -0.4
Short 2836.5, 2836.75, +2, +3.0
Short 2 TF 848.8, 848.8, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 TF 850.0, 850.7, -1.0, -0.3
Short 2 TF 851.9, 851.9, +0.5, +1.3
Short 2 YM 13594, 13594, -3, -3
Long 2 NQ 2828.0, 2828.0, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 NQ 2727.75, 2727.5, -1.75, -1.5
Long 1 NQ 2819.50, -1.0
Long 2 TF 846.4, 846.3, -0.4, -0.3,
Total YM -6
Total NQ -0.25
Total TF -1.7
Weekly Trade Summary 2012105-20121001
Total ES +2.0
Total YM -12
Total NQ -.25
Total TF +1.6
Thurs Oct 4 Trade Summary
20121004
Long 2 TF 839.1, 838.8, -0.3, -0.6
Long 2 TF 838.4, 838.3, +0.6, -0.4
Long 1 NQ 2819.0, +2.0
Long 2 TF 835.1, +0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +0.3
Long 2 TF 839.1, 838.8, -0.3, -0.6
Long 2 TF 838.4, 838.3, +0.6, -0.4
Long 1 NQ 2819.0, +2.0
Long 2 TF 835.1, +0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +0.3
Wed Oct 3
20121003
Long 2 NQ 2796.25, 2796.25, +2, +4.0
Long 2 TF 835.0, 835.1, -0.,5 -0.5
Long 2 TF 834.7, 834.6, +0.6, -0.4
Short 1 TF 834.1, +0.8
Long 1 TF 833.1, +1.6
Long 1 ES 1437.75, +2.0
Short 1 TF 837.6, -0.1
Long 2 TF 836.6, 836.8, -0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +6.0
Total ES +2.0
Total TF +1.5
Long 2 NQ 2796.25, 2796.25, +2, +4.0
Long 2 TF 835.0, 835.1, -0.,5 -0.5
Long 2 TF 834.7, 834.6, +0.6, -0.4
Short 1 TF 834.1, +0.8
Long 1 TF 833.1, +1.6
Long 1 ES 1437.75, +2.0
Short 1 TF 837.6, -0.1
Long 2 TF 836.6, 836.8, -0.5, +0.5
Total NQ +6.0
Total ES +2.0
Total TF +1.5
Tues Oct 2 a give back day
20121002
Long 1 YM 13446, -6
Long 1 TF 837.8, -0.5
Long 2 TF 836.9, 836.9, -0.7, -0.7
Short 2 TF 836.4, 836.2, -0.5, -0.6
Short 1 TF 837.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 837.5, 837.5, -0.6, -0.6
Total YM -6
Total TF -4.9
Although we understood the early going of the initial decline and Test n Reject pattern, we failed to find the bottom with long positions, and bought too early for stp-out's. Then we shorted too early for the next leg of the decline, and bought too early for the next recovery bounce. Today's TF relative strength did little to help our signals, and we note with some chagrin that the bear was led by the YM. Usually, when the YM leads, regardless of direction, and the TF lags, our signals usually sour.
Long 1 YM 13446, -6
Long 1 TF 837.8, -0.5
Long 2 TF 836.9, 836.9, -0.7, -0.7
Short 2 TF 836.4, 836.2, -0.5, -0.6
Short 1 TF 837.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 837.5, 837.5, -0.6, -0.6
Total YM -6
Total TF -4.9
Although we understood the early going of the initial decline and Test n Reject pattern, we failed to find the bottom with long positions, and bought too early for stp-out's. Then we shorted too early for the next leg of the decline, and bought too early for the next recovery bounce. Today's TF relative strength did little to help our signals, and we note with some chagrin that the bear was led by the YM. Usually, when the YM leads, regardless of direction, and the TF lags, our signals usually sour.
Mon Oct 1 The Bernanke Fade
20121001
Long 1 TF 838.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 838.4, 838.6, +1.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 845.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 840.8, -0.6
Long 1 TF 840.3, +1.4
Total TF +6.4
Trades taken above were independent of the Chairman's midday press conference, and were all taken in the 1st hour or so. But I thought to comment on my appraisal of Bernanke's current position visa a vie the market at this juncture... I remember him in press conferences around the time of the great Wall Street financial collapse, and how nervous he was, how much his voice quivered. That was near the bottom of the markets, in reality more deserving confidence with at least an oversold bounce due. But today, in stark contrast, Ben seemed very relaxed, apparently satisfied with his QE-ternal strategy, and at ease with the market's position, just when he should be most afraid. Here, I would again note the mismatch between Ben's emotions and the current position of the market trend and cycle, and look to fade Ben's emotional state, and look to get short....
Long 1 TF 838.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 838.4, 838.6, +1.0, +4.0
Short 1 TF 845.0, +1.0
Long 1 TF 840.8, -0.6
Long 1 TF 840.3, +1.4
Total TF +6.4
Trades taken above were independent of the Chairman's midday press conference, and were all taken in the 1st hour or so. But I thought to comment on my appraisal of Bernanke's current position visa a vie the market at this juncture... I remember him in press conferences around the time of the great Wall Street financial collapse, and how nervous he was, how much his voice quivered. That was near the bottom of the markets, in reality more deserving confidence with at least an oversold bounce due. But today, in stark contrast, Ben seemed very relaxed, apparently satisfied with his QE-ternal strategy, and at ease with the market's position, just when he should be most afraid. Here, I would again note the mismatch between Ben's emotions and the current position of the market trend and cycle, and look to fade Ben's emotional state, and look to get short....
Fri Sep 28 Trade Summary
20120928
Long 1 TF 834.6, -0.4
Long 2 TF 833.5, +0.5, -0.2
Long 2 NQ 2796.25, 2796.75, +2.0, +2.0
Long 1 NQ 2601.75, -1.0
Long 1 TF 834.4, +0.9
Long 3 TF 834.2, 833.8, 33.6, -0., -0.3, -0.5
Short 2 TF 834.3, 833.8, -0.2, -0.0
Short 2 TF 834.8, 835.0, +1.0, +0.6
Short 1 TF 835.7, -0.3
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +1.1
Long 1 TF 834.6, -0.4
Long 2 TF 833.5, +0.5, -0.2
Long 2 NQ 2796.25, 2796.75, +2.0, +2.0
Long 1 NQ 2601.75, -1.0
Long 1 TF 834.4, +0.9
Long 3 TF 834.2, 833.8, 33.6, -0., -0.3, -0.5
Short 2 TF 834.3, 833.8, -0.2, -0.0
Short 2 TF 834.8, 835.0, +1.0, +0.6
Short 1 TF 835.7, -0.3
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +1.1
Wed Sep 26 Trade Summary
20120926
Long 2 ES 1430.50, 1430.75, +1, +1.75
Long 2 TF 835.3, 834.9, +0.4, +2.0
Short 1 TF 832.6, +2.0
Long 2 TF 831.3, 830.4, -1.3, -0.4
Short 1 TF 832.2, +0.8
Total ES +2.75
Total TF +3.5
Long 2 ES 1430.50, 1430.75, +1, +1.75
Long 2 TF 835.3, 834.9, +0.4, +2.0
Short 1 TF 832.6, +2.0
Long 2 TF 831.3, 830.4, -1.3, -0.4
Short 1 TF 832.2, +0.8
Total ES +2.75
Total TF +3.5
Tues Sep 25 Trade Summary
20120925
Short 1 TF 853.5, +1.2
Long 2 TF 852.0, 852.0, -0.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 851.7, 851.7, -0.7, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13504, 13502, +15, +25
Long 2 TF 850.6, 850.5, -0.5, +1.0
Short 1 YM 13539, -2
Long 1 TF 852.6, +1.2
Total YM +38
Total TF +0.3
Short 1 TF 853.5, +1.2
Long 2 TF 852.0, 852.0, -0.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 851.7, 851.7, -0.7, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13504, 13502, +15, +25
Long 2 TF 850.6, 850.5, -0.5, +1.0
Short 1 YM 13539, -2
Long 1 TF 852.6, +1.2
Total YM +38
Total TF +0.3
Mon Sep 24 Trade Summary
0120924
Short 2 NQ 2838.5, 2838.5, +2.0, -0.25
Short 1 TF 848.5, -0.5
Short 1 TF 849.0, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2840.75, 2840.75, +2.0, +5.0
Long 2 NQ 2830.50, 2830.75, +2.0, +2.0
Short 2 TF 850.9, 850.9, -0.3, -0.6
Short 2 NQ 2838.25, 2838.25, -2.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 853.6, 853.8, +2.0, +0.5
Total NQ +8.75
Total TF+0.6
Short 2 NQ 2838.5, 2838.5, +2.0, -0.25
Short 1 TF 848.5, -0.5
Short 1 TF 849.0, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2840.75, 2840.75, +2.0, +5.0
Long 2 NQ 2830.50, 2830.75, +2.0, +2.0
Short 2 TF 850.9, 850.9, -0.3, -0.6
Short 2 NQ 2838.25, 2838.25, -2.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 853.6, 853.8, +2.0, +0.5
Total NQ +8.75
Total TF+0.6
Fri Sep 21 Weekly Trade Summary
20120921
Long 1 TF 856.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 854.9, 854.9, -0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 854.5, 854.5, +0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 856.4, 856.3, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 856.2, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2865.75, +2.25
Short 1 TF 856.4, +0.7
Total NQ +2.25
Total TF +1.7
Weekly Trade Summary 20120921-20120917
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -0
Total NQ +6.25
Total TF +6.3
Long 1 TF 856.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 854.9, 854.9, -0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 854.5, 854.5, +0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 856.4, 856.3, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 856.2, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2865.75, +2.25
Short 1 TF 856.4, +0.7
Total NQ +2.25
Total TF +1.7
Weekly Trade Summary 20120921-20120917
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -0
Total NQ +6.25
Total TF +6.3
Thurs Sep 20 Trade Summary
20120920
Short 2 TF 844.9, 844.9, -0.0, -0.6
Short 2 TF 844.4, 843.8, -1.0, -0.6
Long 3 TF 843.3, 843.2, 842.8, -0.3, -0.7, -0.8
Long 2 TF 844.3, 844.6, -0.7, -0.4
Short 2 TF 848.3, 848.3, +0.5, +0.9
Long 2 TF 848.7, 848.7, +0.4, +1.3
Total TF -2.0
Short 2 TF 844.9, 844.9, -0.0, -0.6
Short 2 TF 844.4, 843.8, -1.0, -0.6
Long 3 TF 843.3, 843.2, 842.8, -0.3, -0.7, -0.8
Long 2 TF 844.3, 844.6, -0.7, -0.4
Short 2 TF 848.3, 848.3, +0.5, +0.9
Long 2 TF 848.7, 848.7, +0.4, +1.3
Total TF -2.0
Wed Sep 19 Trade Summary
20120919
Long 2 NQ 2846.25, 2846.25, +2.0, +4.0
Long 1 TF 852.8, -0.3
Long 1 TF 851.6, , -0.5
Long 2 TF 850.8, 850.9, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 850.6, 850.5, +0.5, +1.8
Short 1 TF 854.5, +1.0
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +2.5
Long 2 NQ 2846.25, 2846.25, +2.0, +4.0
Long 1 TF 852.8, -0.3
Long 1 TF 851.6, , -0.5
Long 2 TF 850.8, 850.9, +0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 850.6, 850.5, +0.5, +1.8
Short 1 TF 854.5, +1.0
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +2.5
Tues Sep 18 Trade Summary
20120918
Short 1 TF 853.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 853.2, -0.0
Short 1 YM 13474, -0
Short 1 TF 853.8, +1.0
Total YM -0
Total TF +2.0
Short 1 TF 853.2, +1.0
Short 1 TF 853.2, -0.0
Short 1 YM 13474, -0
Short 1 TF 853.8, +1.0
Total YM -0
Total TF +2.0
Mon Sep 17 Trade Summary
Trade Summary
20120917
Short 3 TF 855.9, 855.9, 855.6, +.0.5, +0.5, +0.7
Short 1 Tf 857.1, -0.1
Short 1 TF 857.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 854.6, -0.2
Short 1 TF 855.8, +0.7
Long 1 TF 853.9, -0.3
Long 1 TF 852.2, +0.7
Total TF +2.1
20120917
Short 3 TF 855.9, 855.9, 855.6, +.0.5, +0.5, +0.7
Short 1 Tf 857.1, -0.1
Short 1 TF 857.1, -0.4
Short 1 TF 854.6, -0.2
Short 1 TF 855.8, +0.7
Long 1 TF 853.9, -0.3
Long 1 TF 852.2, +0.7
Total TF +2.1
Fri Sep 14 Weekly Trade Summary
Daily Trade Summary 20120914
Short 1 ES 1460.25, -0
Short 2 TF 858.6, 858.7, +0.7, -0.7
Short 1 NQ 2849.5, 2849.5, +2.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 861.3, 861.3, +0.5, -0.6
Short 1 NQ 2850.50, -1.0
Short 1 TF 863.0, -0.9
Short 1 NQ 2858.25, +4.75
Long 2 TF 861.4, 861.0, -0.7, -0.4
Long 3 TF 860.6, 860.5, 860.6, -0.6, -0.5, -0.6
Total ES -0
Total NQ +5.25
Total TF -3.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120914-20120910
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -52
Total NQ +4.5
Total TF +6.6
Short 1 ES 1460.25, -0
Short 2 TF 858.6, 858.7, +0.7, -0.7
Short 1 NQ 2849.5, 2849.5, +2.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 861.3, 861.3, +0.5, -0.6
Short 1 NQ 2850.50, -1.0
Short 1 TF 863.0, -0.9
Short 1 NQ 2858.25, +4.75
Long 2 TF 861.4, 861.0, -0.7, -0.4
Long 3 TF 860.6, 860.5, 860.6, -0.6, -0.5, -0.6
Total ES -0
Total NQ +5.25
Total TF -3.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120914-20120910
Total ES -0.0
Total YM -52
Total NQ +4.5
Total TF +6.6
Thurs Sep 13 Trade Summary
20120913
Long 2 TF 843.0, 843.1, +0.5, +0.8
Short 1 TF 860.9, +1.0
Long 1 TF 854.4, +0.8
Total TF +2.1
Long 2 TF 843.0, 843.1, +0.5, +0.8
Short 1 TF 860.9, +1.0
Long 1 TF 854.4, +0.8
Total TF +2.1
Wed Sep 12 Trade Summary
20120912
Long 1 TF 842.9, +0.1
Long 1 TF 842.9, -0.3
Short 2 TF 842.6, 842.6, +0.4, +0.4
Long 2 TF 842.8, 842.6, +0.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 842.0, -0.5
Long 2 TF 840.0, 839.6, +0.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 839.2, 839.3, +0.7, +1.4
Total TF +2.5
Long 1 TF 842.9, +0.1
Long 1 TF 842.9, -0.3
Short 2 TF 842.6, 842.6, +0.4, +0.4
Long 2 TF 842.8, 842.6, +0.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 842.0, -0.5
Long 2 TF 840.0, 839.6, +0.6, -0.6
Long 2 TF 839.2, 839.3, +0.7, +1.4
Total TF +2.5
Tues Sep 11. A 9-11 11-yr memorium
We pause a moment today in memory of all those innocent citizens that died in the attack on our great nation on Sep 11, 2001.
Trade Summary
20120911
Short 3 YM 13287, 13286, 13307, -15, -15, -5
Short 3 TF 842.9, 842.9, +0.4, +0.3, -0
Short 2 TF 843.6, 843.5, +0.4, +0.5
Short 2 TF 843.9, 844.3, +0.7, +0.8
Long 2 TF 842.6, 842.1, -0.3, -0.7
Long 1 TF 840.6, +0.9
Long 1 TF 841.7, +1.0
Total YM -35
Total TF +4.0
Trade Summary
20120911
Short 3 YM 13287, 13286, 13307, -15, -15, -5
Short 3 TF 842.9, 842.9, +0.4, +0.3, -0
Short 2 TF 843.6, 843.5, +0.4, +0.5
Short 2 TF 843.9, 844.3, +0.7, +0.8
Long 2 TF 842.6, 842.1, -0.3, -0.7
Long 1 TF 840.6, +0.9
Long 1 TF 841.7, +1.0
Total YM -35
Total TF +4.0
Mon Sep 10 Trade Summary
20120910
Long 3 TF 840.2, 839.6. 839.7, -0, +0.5, +1.3
Short 2 YM 13278, 13279, -3, -4
Short 2 YM 13289, 13291, -4, -6
Long 1 NQ 2870.5, -0.75
Total YM -17
Total NQ -0.75
Total TF +1.8
Long 3 TF 840.2, 839.6. 839.7, -0, +0.5, +1.3
Short 2 YM 13278, 13279, -3, -4
Short 2 YM 13289, 13291, -4, -6
Long 1 NQ 2870.5, -0.75
Total YM -17
Total NQ -0.75
Total TF +1.8
Fri Sep 7 Weekly Trade Summary
20120907
Short 2 TF 840.7, 840.6, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 838.6, +1.2
Short 1 TF 840.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 842.4, +0.3
Long 1 TF 842.0, -0.6,
Long 1 TF 841.6., -0.2
Long 1 TF 842.2 +1.0
Total TF +4.2
Weekly Trade Summary 20120907-20120904
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +8
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +8.3
Short 2 TF 840.7, 840.6, +0.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 838.6, +1.2
Short 1 TF 840.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 842.4, +0.3
Long 1 TF 842.0, -0.6,
Long 1 TF 841.6., -0.2
Long 1 TF 842.2 +1.0
Total TF +4.2
Weekly Trade Summary 20120907-20120904
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +8
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +8.3
Thurs Sep 6 Trade Summary
20120906
Long 2 TF 826.5, 826.3, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 829.8, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2807.5, 2808.25, +1.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 831.3, -0.2
Short 2 TF 834.1, 834.1, -0.1, -0.5
Short 1 TF 835.1, -0.8
Short 1 NQ 2816.25, -1.0
Short 2 TF 835.5, 836.2, -0.6, -1.3
Long 1 TF 837.4, +0.9
Long 2 TF 836.8, 836.8, +0.5, -0.2
Long 1 TF 836.4, -0.5
Long 3 TF 836.0, 836.0, 835.8, -0.3, -0.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 835.6, 835.5, +0.6, +0.8
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF -1.5
Long 2 TF 826.5, 826.3, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 829.8, -0.5
Short 2 NQ 2807.5, 2808.25, +1.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 831.3, -0.2
Short 2 TF 834.1, 834.1, -0.1, -0.5
Short 1 TF 835.1, -0.8
Short 1 NQ 2816.25, -1.0
Short 2 TF 835.5, 836.2, -0.6, -1.3
Long 1 TF 837.4, +0.9
Long 2 TF 836.8, 836.8, +0.5, -0.2
Long 1 TF 836.4, -0.5
Long 3 TF 836.0, 836.0, 835.8, -0.3, -0.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 835.6, 835.5, +0.6, +0.8
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF -1.5
Wed Sep 5 Trade Summary
20120905
Long 2 TF 818.4, 818.6, +1.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 823.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 820.3, -0.0
Long 2 TF 819.6, 819.7, +1.0, +0.7
Total TF +3.4
Long 2 TF 818.4, 818.6, +1.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 823.7, -0.3
Long 1 TF 820.3, -0.0
Long 2 TF 819.6, 819.7, +1.0, +0.7
Total TF +3.4
Tues Sep 4 Trade Summary
20120904
Long 1 YM 13039, -7
Long 1 TF 807.2, -0.5
Long 2 TF 805.7, 805.7, +0.7, +2.0
Long 1 YM 12979, +15
Total YM +8
Total TF +2.2
Long 1 YM 13039, -7
Long 1 TF 807.2, -0.5
Long 2 TF 805.7, 805.7, +0.7, +2.0
Long 1 YM 12979, +15
Total YM +8
Total TF +2.2
Fri Aug 31 Monthly, Weekly Trade Summaries
20120831
Long 2 TF 809.4, 808.8, +0.2, -0.5
Long 1 TF 806.6, -1.0
Long 1 TF 803.1, +3.0
Long 1 TF 807.5, -1.2
Long 1 TF 806.7, +1.4
Total TF +1.9
Weekly Trade Summary 20120831-20120827
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +27
Total NQ +1.5
Total TF +2.8
Monthly Totals Aug 2012
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +142
Total NQ +26.75
Total TF +36.3
Long 2 TF 809.4, 808.8, +0.2, -0.5
Long 1 TF 806.6, -1.0
Long 1 TF 803.1, +3.0
Long 1 TF 807.5, -1.2
Long 1 TF 806.7, +1.4
Total TF +1.9
Weekly Trade Summary 20120831-20120827
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +27
Total NQ +1.5
Total TF +2.8
Monthly Totals Aug 2012
Total ES +7.25
Total YM +142
Total NQ +26.75
Total TF +36.3
Thurs Aug 30 Trade Summary
20120830
Short 1 YM 13037, -0
Long 3 TF 810.4, 810.5, 810.2, -0.4, -1.0, -0.9
Long 2 TF 809.5, 809.6, -0.4, +0.7
Long 2 TF 808.4, 808.2, -0.3, -0.6
Long 2 TF 807.6, 807.5, +0.5, -0.7
Total TF -3.1
Short 1 YM 13037, -0
Long 3 TF 810.4, 810.5, 810.2, -0.4, -1.0, -0.9
Long 2 TF 809.5, 809.6, -0.4, +0.7
Long 2 TF 808.4, 808.2, -0.3, -0.6
Long 2 TF 807.6, 807.5, +0.5, -0.7
Total TF -3.1
Wed Aug 29 Trade Summary
20120829
Short NQ 2789.0, +3.5
Short TF 814.2, -0.3
Long 2 NQ 2784.5, 2782.5, +0.25, -1.75
Short 1 TF 815.1, +1.2
Short 1 YM +7
Short 2 TF 812.3, 812.9, -1.1, -0.5
Short 1 TF 813.3, -0.6
Short 1 TF 816.2, -0.6
Short 1 YM, 13094, -0
Short 2 TF 816.7, 816.7, +0.6, +0.8
Total NQ +2.0
Total YM +7
Total TF -0.5
Short NQ 2789.0, +3.5
Short TF 814.2, -0.3
Long 2 NQ 2784.5, 2782.5, +0.25, -1.75
Short 1 TF 815.1, +1.2
Short 1 YM +7
Short 2 TF 812.3, 812.9, -1.1, -0.5
Short 1 TF 813.3, -0.6
Short 1 TF 816.2, -0.6
Short 1 YM, 13094, -0
Short 2 TF 816.7, 816.7, +0.6, +0.8
Total NQ +2.0
Total YM +7
Total TF -0.5
Tues Aug 28 Trade Summary
20120828
Long 2 NQ 2775.0, 2775.0, +1.0 -1.5
Long 2 TF 808.2, 808.4, +0.7, -0.7
Long 2 TF 808.1, +1.0, +2.0
Short 2 YM 13120, 13123, -0, -4
Short 1 TF 814.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 810.4, -0
Total NQ -0.5
Total YM -4
Total TF +4.0
Long 2 NQ 2775.0, 2775.0, +1.0 -1.5
Long 2 TF 808.2, 808.4, +0.7, -0.7
Long 2 TF 808.1, +1.0, +2.0
Short 2 YM 13120, 13123, -0, -4
Short 1 TF 814.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 810.4, -0
Total NQ -0.5
Total YM -4
Total TF +4.0
Mon Aug 27 Trade Summary
20120827
Long 2 TF 807.4, 807.3, +1.0, -0.2
Long 3 YM 13107, 13106, 113105, +8, +11, +12
Short 1 TF 812.9, -0.3
Total YM +31
Total TF +0.5
Long 2 TF 807.4, 807.3, +1.0, -0.2
Long 3 YM 13107, 13106, 113105, +8, +11, +12
Short 1 TF 812.9, -0.3
Total YM +31
Total TF +0.5
Fri Aug 24 Weekly Trade Summary
20120824
Long 1 TF 602.1, +1.0
Short 1 TF 803.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 801.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 801.1, 801.2, +1.3, +0.5
Total TF +3.3
Weekly Trade Summary 20120824-20120820
Total ES +1.25
Total YM -15
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +11.1
Long 1 TF 602.1, +1.0
Short 1 TF 803.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 801.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 801.1, 801.2, +1.3, +0.5
Total TF +3.3
Weekly Trade Summary 20120824-20120820
Total ES +1.25
Total YM -15
Total NQ +3.0
Total TF +11.1
Thurs Aug 23 Trade Summary
20120823
Long 2 TF 806.1, 806.2, +0.5, +1.5
Long 2 TF 805.1, 804.7, -0.7, -0.4
Long 2 TF 804.5, 804.6, +0.7, +1.0
Short 1 NQ 2728.75, -3.0
Short 1 TF 804.4, +1.0
Total NQ -3.0
Total TF +3.6
Long 2 TF 806.1, 806.2, +0.5, +1.5
Long 2 TF 805.1, 804.7, -0.7, -0.4
Long 2 TF 804.5, 804.6, +0.7, +1.0
Short 1 NQ 2728.75, -3.0
Short 1 TF 804.4, +1.0
Total NQ -3.0
Total TF +3.6
Wed Aug 22 Trade Summary
20120822
Short 1 TF 812.2, -0.5
Short 1 ES 1410.0, +1.25
Short 1 NQ 2772.75, +5.0
Short 1 TF 813.8, +1.0
Total ES +1.25
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.5
Short 1 TF 812.2, -0.5
Short 1 ES 1410.0, +1.25
Short 1 NQ 2772.75, +5.0
Short 1 TF 813.8, +1.0
Total ES +1.25
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +0.5
Tues Aug 21 Trade Summary
20120821
Short 1 TF 818.8, -0.7
Short 1 TF 818.7, -0.6
Short 2 TF 823.3, 823.6, +0.4, +1.0
Short 1 TF 824.0, -0.6
Short 1 TF 824.8, -0.7
Short 2 TF 826.5, 826.2, +1.3, +0.2
Long 2 TF 824.9, -0.3
Long 2 NQ, 2790.0, 2790.0, +2, -1.0
Long 1 TF 824.5, -0
Long 2 NQ 2786.5, 2786.5, -0
Long 1 TF 821.3, -0.7
Long 2 TF 818.6, 818.8, +0.5, -0.5
Total NQ +1
Total TF -0.7
Short 1 TF 818.8, -0.7
Short 1 TF 818.7, -0.6
Short 2 TF 823.3, 823.6, +0.4, +1.0
Short 1 TF 824.0, -0.6
Short 1 TF 824.8, -0.7
Short 2 TF 826.5, 826.2, +1.3, +0.2
Long 2 TF 824.9, -0.3
Long 2 NQ, 2790.0, 2790.0, +2, -1.0
Long 1 TF 824.5, -0
Long 2 NQ 2786.5, 2786.5, -0
Long 1 TF 821.3, -0.7
Long 2 TF 818.6, 818.8, +0.5, -0.5
Total NQ +1
Total TF -0.7
Mon Aug 20 Trade Summary
20120820
Short 2 YM 13223, 13223, +1, -6
Long 1 TF 819.9, +1.5
Short 2 TF 813.3, 813.3, +0.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.4, -0.5, +0.5
Long 2 TF 810.8, 810.8, +0.5, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13217, 13217, -5, -5
Long 1 TF 810.0, +1.1
Short 1 TF 811.7, -0.4
Short 1 TF 812.8, +0.7
Long 2 TF 812.0, 811.6, -0, +1.8
Total YM -15
Total TF +4.4
Short 2 YM 13223, 13223, +1, -6
Long 1 TF 819.9, +1.5
Short 2 TF 813.3, 813.3, +0.4, -0.5
Long 2 TF 812.2, 812.4, -0.5, +0.5
Long 2 TF 810.8, 810.8, +0.5, -0.7
Long 2 YM 13217, 13217, -5, -5
Long 1 TF 810.0, +1.1
Short 1 TF 811.7, -0.4
Short 1 TF 812.8, +0.7
Long 2 TF 812.0, 811.6, -0, +1.8
Total YM -15
Total TF +4.4
Fri Aug 17 Weekly Trade Summary
20120817
Short 2 TF 811.7, 811.8, -0.2, +0.5
Long 2 TF 811.9, 811.9, +0.4, +0.7
Total TF +1.4
Weekly Trade Summary 20120817-20120813
Total ES -0
Total YM +75
Total NQ -1.5
Total TF +11.7
Short 2 TF 811.7, 811.8, -0.2, +0.5
Long 2 TF 811.9, 811.9, +0.4, +0.7
Total TF +1.4
Weekly Trade Summary 20120817-20120813
Total ES -0
Total YM +75
Total NQ -1.5
Total TF +11.7
Thur Aug 16 Trade Summary
20120816
Long 2 TF 799.6, 799.8, -0.2, -0.4
Short 1 TF 799.4, -0.6
Long 2 TF 799.5, 799.9, +0.8, +1.0
Long 2 YM 13127, 13127, +5, +20
Long 2 TF 798.5, 798.5, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 NQ 2753.75, -1.5
Total NQ -1.50
Total YM +25
Total TF 2.1
Long 2 TF 799.6, 799.8, -0.2, -0.4
Short 1 TF 799.4, -0.6
Long 2 TF 799.5, 799.9, +0.8, +1.0
Long 2 YM 13127, 13127, +5, +20
Long 2 TF 798.5, 798.5, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 NQ 2753.75, -1.5
Total NQ -1.50
Total YM +25
Total TF 2.1
Wed Aug 15 Trade Summary
20120815
Short 2 TF 796.7, 796.7, +0.6, -0.6
Short 2 YM 13158, 13158, +6, -6
Short 2 TF 798.3, 798.1, -0.6, +0.5
Short 2 TF 799.0, 799.1, -0.7, -0.1
Short 2 TF 799.1, 799.1, +0.8, +2.0
Short 2 TF 798.2, 798.3, -0.6, +0.5
Short 2 TF 799.8, 799.6, -04, +0.4
Short 1 TF 800.5, -0.3
Total YM -0
Total TF +1.5
Short 2 TF 796.7, 796.7, +0.6, -0.6
Short 2 YM 13158, 13158, +6, -6
Short 2 TF 798.3, 798.1, -0.6, +0.5
Short 2 TF 799.0, 799.1, -0.7, -0.1
Short 2 TF 799.1, 799.1, +0.8, +2.0
Short 2 TF 798.2, 798.3, -0.6, +0.5
Short 2 TF 799.8, 799.6, -04, +0.4
Short 1 TF 800.5, -0.3
Total YM -0
Total TF +1.5
Mon Aug 13 Trade Summary
20120813
Short 1 TF 797.5, -.6
Short 1 TF 798.2, +3.0
Short 2 YM 13158, 13158, +10, +20
Short 2 TF 796.2, 796.2, +0.4, +1.0
Total YM +30
Total TF +3.8
Short 1 TF 797.5, -.6
Short 1 TF 798.2, +3.0
Short 2 YM 13158, 13158, +10, +20
Short 2 TF 796.2, 796.2, +0.4, +1.0
Total YM +30
Total TF +3.8
Fri Aug 10 Weekly Trade Summary
20120810
Short 1 TF 795.8, -0.6
Short 1 TF 798.2, +0.1
Short 1 TF 796.6, +1.0
Short 1 YM 13068, +8
Short 1 YM 13062, -8
Short 1 TF 796.6, -0.4
Short 1 YM 13075, -6
Short 2 NQ 2713.25, 2713.25, +1.0, -1.0
Short 2 YM 13117, 13127, -5, -14
Short 2 YM 13112, 13112, +40, +40
Total NQ -0.0
Total YM +55
Total TF +0.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20120810-20120806
Total ES +6.0
Total YM +69
Total NQ +13.75
Total TF +7.3
Short 1 TF 795.8, -0.6
Short 1 TF 798.2, +0.1
Short 1 TF 796.6, +1.0
Short 1 YM 13068, +8
Short 1 YM 13062, -8
Short 1 TF 796.6, -0.4
Short 1 YM 13075, -6
Short 2 NQ 2713.25, 2713.25, +1.0, -1.0
Short 2 YM 13117, 13127, -5, -14
Short 2 YM 13112, 13112, +40, +40
Total NQ -0.0
Total YM +55
Total TF +0.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20120810-20120806
Total ES +6.0
Total YM +69
Total NQ +13.75
Total TF +7.3
Thurs Aug 9 Trade Summary
20120809
Short 1 YM 13121 -7
Short 1 TF 799.6, -0.6
Short 1 TF 799.8, -0.6
Short 3 TF 801.2, 801.2, 801.5, +0.7, -0.7, -0.5
Short 1 ES 1401.75, +4.0
Short 2 NQ 2721.0, 2720.75, +5.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 801.6, -0.6
Short 2 TF 802.4, 802.4, +1.0, -0.7
Short 3 TF 803.0, 802.9, 803.3, +2.8, +0.2, +1.0
Total ES +4.0
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM -7
Total TF +2.0
Short 1 YM 13121 -7
Short 1 TF 799.6, -0.6
Short 1 TF 799.8, -0.6
Short 3 TF 801.2, 801.2, 801.5, +0.7, -0.7, -0.5
Short 1 ES 1401.75, +4.0
Short 2 NQ 2721.0, 2720.75, +5.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 801.6, -0.6
Short 2 TF 802.4, 802.4, +1.0, -0.7
Short 3 TF 803.0, 802.9, 803.3, +2.8, +0.2, +1.0
Total ES +4.0
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM -7
Total TF +2.0
Wed Aug 8 Trade Summary
20120808
Long 2 TF 796.0, 796.1, +1.0, +1.2
Long 1 TF 797.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 799.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 798.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 797.7, -0.4
Total TF +2.0
Long 2 TF 796.0, 796.1, +1.0, +1.2
Long 1 TF 797.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 799.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 798.0, -0.4
Long 1 TF 797.7, -0.4
Total TF +2.0
Tues Aug 7 Trade Summary
20120807
Long 2 TF 798.1, 798.1, +0.4, -0.4
Short 3 TF 798.7, 799.2, 799.2, -0.0, +1, +1.5
Long 2 NQ 2698.75, 2698.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 2 YM 13132, 13132, +7, -5
Short 1 TF 800.0, -0
Long 2 TF 800.3, 800.3, -0.4, -0.4
Short 1 TF 800.7, -0.1
Long 1 TF 801.4, +0.6
Short 1 YM 13147, +11
Long 2 YM 13121, 13118, +3, +10
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM +26
Total TF +2.2
Long 2 TF 798.1, 798.1, +0.4, -0.4
Short 3 TF 798.7, 799.2, 799.2, -0.0, +1, +1.5
Long 2 NQ 2698.75, 2698.5, +2.0, +4.0
Short 2 YM 13132, 13132, +7, -5
Short 1 TF 800.0, -0
Long 2 TF 800.3, 800.3, -0.4, -0.4
Short 1 TF 800.7, -0.1
Long 1 TF 801.4, +0.6
Short 1 YM 13147, +11
Long 2 YM 13121, 13118, +3, +10
Total NQ +6.0
Total YM +26
Total TF +2.2
Mon Aug 6 Trade Summary
20120806
Short 2 YM 13098, 13098, -7, -7
Short 2 TF 791.1, 796.6, -0.8, -1.3
Short 1 ES 1395.25, +2.0
Short 2 TF 792.2, 792.2, +0.8, -0.9
Short 2 YM 13119, 13119, +10, -1
Short 2 TF 795.0, 795.4, +1.5, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2691.75, 2691.75, +1.75, -0.0
Short 2 TF 795.1, 795.0, +0.7, +0.9
Short 1 TF 793.4, -0.5
Short 1 TF 794.9, +1.6
Total ES +2.0
Total NQ +1.75
Total YM -5
Total TF +3.0
Short 2 YM 13098, 13098, -7, -7
Short 2 TF 791.1, 796.6, -0.8, -1.3
Short 1 ES 1395.25, +2.0
Short 2 TF 792.2, 792.2, +0.8, -0.9
Short 2 YM 13119, 13119, +10, -1
Short 2 TF 795.0, 795.4, +1.5, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2691.75, 2691.75, +1.75, -0.0
Short 2 TF 795.1, 795.0, +0.7, +0.9
Short 1 TF 793.4, -0.5
Short 1 TF 794.9, +1.6
Total ES +2.0
Total NQ +1.75
Total YM -5
Total TF +3.0
Frid Aug 3 Weekly Trade Summary
20120803
Short 1 TF 781.6, -1.0
Short 2 TF 783, 783.1, +0.5, -1.0
Short 2 TF 783.7, 783.9, -1.2, -1.1
Short 2 TF 786.2, 786.3, +0.9, +0.5
Short 2 TF 785.4, 785.2, -0.2, +0.5
Short 2 TF 787.3, 787.2, -0.5, +0.1
Short 2 TF 789.1, 789.1, +0.4, +1.3
Total TF -0.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120803-20120730
Total ES +0.0
Total YM -16
Total NQ +16.75
Total TF +12.6
Short 1 TF 781.6, -1.0
Short 2 TF 783, 783.1, +0.5, -1.0
Short 2 TF 783.7, 783.9, -1.2, -1.1
Short 2 TF 786.2, 786.3, +0.9, +0.5
Short 2 TF 785.4, 785.2, -0.2, +0.5
Short 2 TF 787.3, 787.2, -0.5, +0.1
Short 2 TF 789.1, 789.1, +0.4, +1.3
Total TF -0.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120803-20120730
Total ES +0.0
Total YM -16
Total NQ +16.75
Total TF +12.6
Thurs Aug 2, Behavior Stops
Early action today was in a bull breakout mode. I took the YM contract as the TF leadership was already getting away. But trading a laggard does not usually yield good results. YM failed to follow on the early breakouts.
Then at initial resistance, I made the mistake of thinking that the lagging YM should help turn the NQ and TF contracts when they hit initial resistance. That didn't work either. So I compounded my mistake in taking the laggard long instead of using the leader, and fading leadership as if the laggard would hold it back. Although this strategy can, and often does work the the leadership roles are reversed (YM leading and TF lagging), it seldom pays to fade the Russell Index leadership.
When I have three losing trade calls in a roll, I put myself in the penalty box. I don't stop making trade calls, but my trade plan requires I make profits on two of the next three calls. Today, both those paper trade calls were good winners, allowing me to take the sixth and last trade call with real money again. But since I used the simulator for the paper trades, my account actually suffered a loss today, even though
my trade calls in total were profitable.
Why do I do this? Several reasons. It takes me out of the tendency traders lean towards of trying too hard to get their money back after losses. When three losses become five in a row, mostly likely I have lost more than my daily profit quota. It also forces me to focus very carefully on only my next signals, not 'which way I think the market is supposed to go', and thus helps separate my trading from any trend prejudice I may be suffering from at that time. Nothing is worse for results than 'trying to get even'. Valhalla Futures believes there is simply no way to survive and prosper trading futures without a precise trade plan, incorporating rules and setups. And behavior governors are part of that plan. Also included in a those governors are a limit to how many trades can be taken, and how much gross loss is tolerated before trading with real money must be halted.
20120802
Long 2 YM 12840, 12840, -7, -7
Short 2 NQ 2615.0, 2617.0, -5.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 767.1, 767.1, -1.2, -1.2
Short 2 TF 768.2, 768.2, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 NQ 2625.5, 2625.5, +2.0, +10.0
Long 2 TF 768.9, 768.9, +0.4, +1.4
Total YM -14
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +1.3
Then at initial resistance, I made the mistake of thinking that the lagging YM should help turn the NQ and TF contracts when they hit initial resistance. That didn't work either. So I compounded my mistake in taking the laggard long instead of using the leader, and fading leadership as if the laggard would hold it back. Although this strategy can, and often does work the the leadership roles are reversed (YM leading and TF lagging), it seldom pays to fade the Russell Index leadership.
When I have three losing trade calls in a roll, I put myself in the penalty box. I don't stop making trade calls, but my trade plan requires I make profits on two of the next three calls. Today, both those paper trade calls were good winners, allowing me to take the sixth and last trade call with real money again. But since I used the simulator for the paper trades, my account actually suffered a loss today, even though
my trade calls in total were profitable.
Why do I do this? Several reasons. It takes me out of the tendency traders lean towards of trying too hard to get their money back after losses. When three losses become five in a row, mostly likely I have lost more than my daily profit quota. It also forces me to focus very carefully on only my next signals, not 'which way I think the market is supposed to go', and thus helps separate my trading from any trend prejudice I may be suffering from at that time. Nothing is worse for results than 'trying to get even'. Valhalla Futures believes there is simply no way to survive and prosper trading futures without a precise trade plan, incorporating rules and setups. And behavior governors are part of that plan. Also included in a those governors are a limit to how many trades can be taken, and how much gross loss is tolerated before trading with real money must be halted.
20120802
Long 2 YM 12840, 12840, -7, -7
Short 2 NQ 2615.0, 2617.0, -5.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 767.1, 767.1, -1.2, -1.2
Short 2 TF 768.2, 768.2, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 NQ 2625.5, 2625.5, +2.0, +10.0
Long 2 TF 768.9, 768.9, +0.4, +1.4
Total YM -14
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +1.3
Wed Aug 1 Trade Summary
20120801
Long 1 YM 12999, -0
Long 1 NQ 2641.25, +5.0
Long 1 TF 783.3, +1.4
Long 2 YM 12993, 12995, -5, +5
Long 1 TF 781.7, -0.3
Long 2 TF 781.5, 781.8, +0.9, +0.6
Long 2 TF 779.8, 779.8, +0.5, -0.2
Total YM -0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +2.9
Long 1 YM 12999, -0
Long 1 NQ 2641.25, +5.0
Long 1 TF 783.3, +1.4
Long 2 YM 12993, 12995, -5, +5
Long 1 TF 781.7, -0.3
Long 2 TF 781.5, 781.8, +0.9, +0.6
Long 2 TF 779.8, 779.8, +0.5, -0.2
Total YM -0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +2.9
Tues Jul 31 Monthly Trade Summary
20120731
Short 2 NQ 2647.75, 2647.50, -2.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 792.7, -1.0
Short 2 TF 793.2, 793.2, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 TF 793.7, 793.2, +2.0, +1.0
Long 2 TF 790.3, 790.5, -0.5, +0.5
Long 1 TF 790.3, +2.0
Long 2 NQ 2637.5, 2638.0, +3.0, +2.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +3.4
Monthly Totals Jul 2012
Total ES -1.5
Total YM +33
Total NQ -1.25
Total TF +69.9
Short 2 NQ 2647.75, 2647.50, -2.0, +2.0
Short 1 TF 792.7, -1.0
Short 2 TF 793.2, 793.2, -0.3, -0.3
Short 2 TF 793.7, 793.2, +2.0, +1.0
Long 2 TF 790.3, 790.5, -0.5, +0.5
Long 1 TF 790.3, +2.0
Long 2 NQ 2637.5, 2638.0, +3.0, +2.0
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +3.4
Monthly Totals Jul 2012
Total ES -1.5
Total YM +33
Total NQ -1.25
Total TF +69.9
Mon Jul 30 Trade Summary
20120730
Long 1 NQ 2649.5, +3.0
Short 1 YM 13047, -2
Short 2 TF 795.9, 796.5, +0.5, +2.0
Short 2 YM 12062, +5, -5
Short 2 TF 798.7, 798.7, +0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 791.3, +0.4, +1.2
Short 1 TF 791.4, +1.7
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM -2
Total TF +5.8
Long 1 NQ 2649.5, +3.0
Short 1 YM 13047, -2
Short 2 TF 795.9, 796.5, +0.5, +2.0
Short 2 YM 12062, +5, -5
Short 2 TF 798.7, 798.7, +0.4, -0.4
Short 2 TF 791.3, +0.4, +1.2
Short 1 TF 791.4, +1.7
Total NQ +3.0
Total YM -2
Total TF +5.8
Fri Jul 27 Weekly Trade Summary
20120727
Long 3 TF 773.8, 773.8, 774.0, +0.8, +0.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 774.0, +1.0
Short 2 TF 778.5, 779.0, -0.0, +0.5
Long 2 TF 779.3, 779.3, -0.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 779.4, 779.4, +0.4, +0.8
Total TF +2.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120727-20120723
Total ES +0.5
Total YM +19
Total NQ -3.0
Total TF +14.3
Long 3 TF 773.8, 773.8, 774.0, +0.8, +0.5, -0.4
Long 1 TF 774.0, +1.0
Short 2 TF 778.5, 779.0, -0.0, +0.5
Long 2 TF 779.3, 779.3, -0.4, -0.4
Long 2 TF 779.4, 779.4, +0.4, +0.8
Total TF +2.8
Weekly Trade Summary 20120727-20120723
Total ES +0.5
Total YM +19
Total NQ -3.0
Total TF +14.3
Thurs Jul 26 Trade Summary
20120726
Long 2 YM 12826, +5, +20
Long 2 TF 775.7, 775.7, +.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 771.7, +1.0
Totay YM +25
Total TF +2.5
Long 2 YM 12826, +5, +20
Long 2 TF 775.7, 775.7, +.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 771.7, +1.0
Totay YM +25
Total TF +2.5
Wed Jul 25 Trade Summary
20120725
Short 2 TF 772.4, 772.2, +2.0, +0.5
Long 2 TF 765.8, 765.8, +0.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.5
Short 2 TF 765.0, 765.0, -0.5, -0.5
Long 3 TF 765.5, 765.4, 765.3, +0.5 +0.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.0
Total TF +4.0
Short 2 TF 772.4, 772.2, +2.0, +0.5
Long 2 TF 765.8, 765.8, +0.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.5
Short 2 TF 765.0, 765.0, -0.5, -0.5
Long 3 TF 765.5, 765.4, 765.3, +0.5 +0.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.0
Total TF +4.0
Tues Jul 24 Trade Summary
20120724
Long 2 TF 773.8, 774.0, -0.8, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2580.2579.75, -1.75, -1.25
Long 3 TF 772.0, 771.0, 772.0, +0.6, +1.0, -0.2
Long 2 YM 12590, 12590, +6, -6
Long 1 ES 1339.0, -1.5
Long 2 TF 771.6, 771.5, -0.6, -0.5
Long 4 TF 770.0, 770.0, 769.9, 771.1, +0.5, +0.5, -0.0, +1.6
Long 3 TF 769.7, 769.9, 768.8, +0.5, +0.5, +1.2
Total NQ -3.0
Total YM -0
Total ES -1.5
Total TF +3.7
Long 2 TF 773.8, 774.0, -0.8, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2580.2579.75, -1.75, -1.25
Long 3 TF 772.0, 771.0, 772.0, +0.6, +1.0, -0.2
Long 2 YM 12590, 12590, +6, -6
Long 1 ES 1339.0, -1.5
Long 2 TF 771.6, 771.5, -0.6, -0.5
Long 4 TF 770.0, 770.0, 769.9, 771.1, +0.5, +0.5, -0.0, +1.6
Long 3 TF 769.7, 769.9, 768.8, +0.5, +0.5, +1.2
Total NQ -3.0
Total YM -0
Total ES -1.5
Total TF +3.7
Mon Jul 23 Trade Summary
20120723
Long 2 NQ 2546.0, 2545.75, +1.0, -1.0
Long 2 ES 1333.0, 1333.0, -0, +1.75
Short 1 TF 772.7, +1.2
Short 1 YM 12593, -6
Short 2 TF 774.5, 774.4, +0.4, -0.3
Short 2 TF 775.6, 775.6, +0.4, -0.4
Total NQ -0
Total YM -6
Total ES +1.75
Total TF +1.3
Long 2 NQ 2546.0, 2545.75, +1.0, -1.0
Long 2 ES 1333.0, 1333.0, -0, +1.75
Short 1 TF 772.7, +1.2
Short 1 YM 12593, -6
Short 2 TF 774.5, 774.4, +0.4, -0.3
Short 2 TF 775.6, 775.6, +0.4, -0.4
Total NQ -0
Total YM -6
Total ES +1.75
Total TF +1.3
Fri Jul 20 Weekly Trade Summary
Weekly Trade Summary 20120720-20120716
Total ES -0
Total YM -23
Total NQ -4.5
Total TF +19.2
Trade Summary
20120720
Long 2 NQ 2640.75, 2641.0, +2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 790.2, 790.2, +0.4, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2636.5, -2.0
Short 1 TF 791.7, +0.8
Long 1 TF 791.1, -0.2
Long 1 TF 790.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 790.0, 789.5, -0, +0.6
Long 2 TF 790.5, 790.5, +0.5, +1.0
Long 2 TF 791.9, 791.9, +0.4, +1.0
Total NQ -0.5
Total TF +5.0
Total ES -0
Total YM -23
Total NQ -4.5
Total TF +19.2
Trade Summary
20120720
Long 2 NQ 2640.75, 2641.0, +2, -0.5
Short 2 TF 790.2, 790.2, +0.4, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2636.5, -2.0
Short 1 TF 791.7, +0.8
Long 1 TF 791.1, -0.2
Long 1 TF 790.3, -0.5
Long 2 TF 790.0, 789.5, -0, +0.6
Long 2 TF 790.5, 790.5, +0.5, +1.0
Long 2 TF 791.9, 791.9, +0.4, +1.0
Total NQ -0.5
Total TF +5.0
Thur Jul 19 Trade Summary
20120719
Long 2 TF 804.3, 804.4, +.06, +0.8
Short 1 TF 805.6, +1.2
Short 1 TF 801.2, -0.4
Total TF +2.2
Long 2 TF 804.3, 804.4, +.06, +0.8
Short 1 TF 805.6, +1.2
Short 1 TF 801.2, -0.4
Total TF +2.2
Wed Jul 18 Trade Summary
20120718
Short 1 TF 800.2, 800.1, +.5 +1.1
Short 1 YM 12739, -11
Short 2 YM 12756, 12768, -6, +5
Short 1 TF 803.6, +1.0
Short 1 TF 802.5, +1.2
Total YM -12
Total TF +3.8
Short 1 TF 800.2, 800.1, +.5 +1.1
Short 1 YM 12739, -11
Short 2 YM 12756, 12768, -6, +5
Short 1 TF 803.6, +1.0
Short 1 TF 802.5, +1.2
Total YM -12
Total TF +3.8
Tues Jul 17 Trade Summary
20120717
Long 1 TF 797.4, -0.7
Long 2 TF 794.6, 794.2, +.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 793.4, -0.5
Long 1 YM 12646, -11
Long 1 TF 786.3, 786.6, +0.9, +1.0
Total YM -11
Total TF +3.4
Long 1 TF 797.4, -0.7
Long 2 TF 794.6, 794.2, +.5, +2.0
Long 1 TF 793.4, -0.5
Long 1 YM 12646, -11
Long 1 TF 786.3, 786.6, +0.9, +1.0
Total YM -11
Total TF +3.4
Mon Jul 16 Trade Summary
20120716
Long 1 TF 792.7, +1.6
Long 2 NQ 2565.75, 2666.25, -2.0, -2.0
Long 1 TF 792.2, +.9
Short 2 TF 791.8, 791.8, +4.0, -0.2
Long 1 TF 791.1, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2562.25, -0.0
Long 1 TF 790.7, +1.0
Total NQ -4.0
Total TF +4.7
Long 1 TF 792.7, +1.6
Long 2 NQ 2565.75, 2666.25, -2.0, -2.0
Long 1 TF 792.2, +.9
Short 2 TF 791.8, 791.8, +4.0, -0.2
Long 1 TF 791.1, +1.0
Long 1 NQ 2562.25, -0.0
Long 1 TF 790.7, +1.0
Total NQ -4.0
Total TF +4.7
Fri Jul 13 Weekly Trade Summary
Weekly Trade Summary 20120713-20120709
Total ES -2.0
Total YM +14
Total NQ -5.0
Total TF +21.9
20120713
Short 1 ES 1340.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 795.6, 795.6, +0.6, +2.0
Short 2 TF 798.8, 798.7, +0.6, +1.3
Total ES -2.0
Total TF +4.5
Total ES -2.0
Total YM +14
Total NQ -5.0
Total TF +21.9
20120713
Short 1 ES 1340.0, -2.0
Short 2 TF 795.6, 795.6, +0.6, +2.0
Short 2 TF 798.8, 798.7, +0.6, +1.3
Total ES -2.0
Total TF +4.5
Thurs Jul 12 Trade Summary
20120712
Short 1 TF 782.0, +1.1
Long 1 TF 778.4, +1.2
Short 2 YM 12454, 12452, -5, +5
Long 1 TF 778.0, +.5
Short 2 TF 777.4, 777.4, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 7771.1, 777.1, +1.0, +0.5
Short 4 TF 776.8, 776.8, 776.8, 776.8, +0. 4, +0.4, +1.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 776.7, -0.5
Total YM -0
Total TF +6.6
Short 1 TF 782.0, +1.1
Long 1 TF 778.4, +1.2
Short 2 YM 12454, 12452, -5, +5
Long 1 TF 778.0, +.5
Short 2 TF 777.4, 777.4, -0.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 7771.1, 777.1, +1.0, +0.5
Short 4 TF 776.8, 776.8, 776.8, 776.8, +0. 4, +0.4, +1.0, +1.0
Short 1 TF 776.7, -0.5
Total YM -0
Total TF +6.6
Wed Jul 11 Trade Summary
20120711
Long 2 YM 12559, 12559, +6, -6
Long 1 YM 12553, 12554, +5, -5
Short 2 TF 790.9, 790.9, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 TF 793.3, -0.0
Long 1 TF 792.9, +2.0
Long 2 TF 793.0, 792.5, -0.0, +1.0
Long 2 NQ 2568.0, 2567.5, -2.25, -1.75
Long 2 TF 790.2, 790.2, -0.8, -0.8
Long 2 TF 789.5, 789.5, +1.0, +2.2
Total YM -0
Total NQ -4.0
Total TF +4.6
Long 2 YM 12559, 12559, +6, -6
Long 1 YM 12553, 12554, +5, -5
Short 2 TF 790.9, 790.9, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 TF 793.3, -0.0
Long 1 TF 792.9, +2.0
Long 2 TF 793.0, 792.5, -0.0, +1.0
Long 2 NQ 2568.0, 2567.5, -2.25, -1.75
Long 2 TF 790.2, 790.2, -0.8, -0.8
Long 2 TF 789.5, 789.5, +1.0, +2.2
Total YM -0
Total NQ -4.0
Total TF +4.6
Tues Jul 10 A Trading Plan
The vertical collapse or the early run-away bull are the most challenging of day model patterns to trade. But usually, the Serial Sequent method gives an early entry signal that if taken, would have captured most of the move. In the mental game of trading, it's not only critical to avoid trades outside your plan, but at times even more critical to take the trades within your plan, whether you feel comfortable taking them at the point they appeared or not. ...usually, the ones within your trade plan most stirring your discomfort are the best trades of all to take....
Today we missed an early opening signal to get short in the mini Russell, and were left with mostly treading water the rest of the move. What good is a great signal method if you don't use it?
20120710
Long 2 TF 807.5, 806.5, -1.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 806.1, -0.5
Long 2 TF 803.1, 803.1, +.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 802.6, 802.7, +0.5, -0.5
Short 1 TF 802.9, -0.0
Short 2 TF 804.0, 804.1, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 TF 799.5, 799.5, +1.0, -0.3
Long 2 TF 12652, 12651, -5, -3
Long 2 TF 798.0, 797.9, -0.6, +0.6
Long 2 TF 798.2, 797.7, +1.2, +0.6
Total YM -8
Total TF +1.7
Today we missed an early opening signal to get short in the mini Russell, and were left with mostly treading water the rest of the move. What good is a great signal method if you don't use it?
20120710
Long 2 TF 807.5, 806.5, -1.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 806.1, -0.5
Long 2 TF 803.1, 803.1, +.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 802.6, 802.7, +0.5, -0.5
Short 1 TF 802.9, -0.0
Short 2 TF 804.0, 804.1, +0.5, +1.2
Long 2 TF 799.5, 799.5, +1.0, -0.3
Long 2 TF 12652, 12651, -5, -3
Long 2 TF 798.0, 797.9, -0.6, +0.6
Long 2 TF 798.2, 797.7, +1.2, +0.6
Total YM -8
Total TF +1.7
Mon Jul 9 Markets Back to More Normal
20120709
Long 1 NQ 2601.25, -1.0
Long 2 TF 799.4, 799.6, +0.8, +1.7
Long 1 TF 799.0, +1.0
Long 2 YM 12734, 12635, +12, +10
Short 1 TF 803.2, +1.0
Total NQ -1.0
Total YM +22
Total TF +4.5
Long 1 NQ 2601.25, -1.0
Long 2 TF 799.4, 799.6, +0.8, +1.7
Long 1 TF 799.0, +1.0
Long 2 YM 12734, 12635, +12, +10
Short 1 TF 803.2, +1.0
Total NQ -1.0
Total YM +22
Total TF +4.5
Fri Jul 6 Various Day Models
At least the mini Russell had some swing to the reversals, enabling us to capture a decent mornings profits. But trades in the YM and NQ reflected the grinding persistence of their near-vertical trade action.
20120706
Long 1 TF 806.0, +1.3
Long 2 NQ 2619.25, 2619.25, -0, -0
Long 2 TF 806.0, 806.0, 805.5, -0, -0.6, -1.3
Long 2 TF 804.4, 804.5, +0.7, +0.7
Long 2 NQ 2612.5, 2612.5, +4.0, -0.5
Long 2 TF 804.3, 804.3, -0.6, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2610.0, 2610.0, +2.0, -2.0
Long 3 TF 804.00, +1.0, +1.2, +2.0
Long 2 YM 12683, 12683, +6, -2
Long 2 YM 12683, 12683, +6, -6
Short 2 YM 12677, 12677, -1, -1
Long 2 TF 804.8, 804.7, -0.4, +0.6
Long 2 NQ 2599.0, 2598.25, -2.0, -0.0
Total YM +2
Total NQ +1.5
Total TF +4.0
Weekly Trade Summary 20120706-20120703
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +25
Total NQ +3.25
Total TF +5.3
20120706
Long 1 TF 806.0, +1.3
Long 2 NQ 2619.25, 2619.25, -0, -0
Long 2 TF 806.0, 806.0, 805.5, -0, -0.6, -1.3
Long 2 TF 804.4, 804.5, +0.7, +0.7
Long 2 NQ 2612.5, 2612.5, +4.0, -0.5
Long 2 TF 804.3, 804.3, -0.6, -0.6
Long 2 NQ 2610.0, 2610.0, +2.0, -2.0
Long 3 TF 804.00, +1.0, +1.2, +2.0
Long 2 YM 12683, 12683, +6, -2
Long 2 YM 12683, 12683, +6, -6
Short 2 YM 12677, 12677, -1, -1
Long 2 TF 804.8, 804.7, -0.4, +0.6
Long 2 NQ 2599.0, 2598.25, -2.0, -0.0
Total YM +2
Total NQ +1.5
Total TF +4.0
Weekly Trade Summary 20120706-20120703
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +25
Total NQ +3.25
Total TF +5.3
Thurs Jul 5 Another Persistent Trend Day
...although this time the vertical was in bear mode. And like the one in bull mode that preceded the 4th of July break, we fared little better.
20120705
Long 2 TF 812.9, 812.0, -0, -0.4
Short 2 TF 811.7, 811.7, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 NQ 2632.0, -2.0
Long 2 TF 810.7, 810.8, -0.7, -0.5
Long 2 TF 809.9, 810.0, +0.6, +2.0
Long 1 NQ 2625.0, +6.0
Short 1 NQ 2635.75, -1.0
Short 1 YM 12828, -5
Short 2 NQ 2642.50, 2642.50, +1.25, -1.25
Short 1 TF 815.6, -0.0
Short 1 NQ 2643.75, -1.25
Short 2 YM 12853, 12856, -6, +4
Total YM -2
Total NQ +1.75
Total TF +1.0
20120705
Long 2 TF 812.9, 812.0, -0, -0.4
Short 2 TF 811.7, 811.7, +0.4, -0.4
Long 1 NQ 2632.0, -2.0
Long 2 TF 810.7, 810.8, -0.7, -0.5
Long 2 TF 809.9, 810.0, +0.6, +2.0
Long 1 NQ 2625.0, +6.0
Short 1 NQ 2635.75, -1.0
Short 1 YM 12828, -5
Short 2 NQ 2642.50, 2642.50, +1.25, -1.25
Short 1 TF 815.6, -0.0
Short 1 NQ 2643.75, -1.25
Short 2 YM 12853, 12856, -6, +4
Total YM -2
Total NQ +1.75
Total TF +1.0
Tues Jul 3 Persistent Trend Day Action
If one could anticipate the Persistent Trend Day model in advance, then taking an early breakout with a runner could theoretically capture most of the day with a loose trailing stp-loss, with little or no need to manage the trade. Pullbacks are very shallow, and breakouts often frustrate with chop action. You simply enter and hold.
But in reality, these models only occur a couple times a month, and such a strategy wouldn't last long in a market that swings. Such an early breakout trade was apparent today, and was called and taken in the ValhallaFutures chat room via the mini Russell. But we dumped it so ridiculously early without knowledge of the remaining action to the day.
20120703
Short 1 TF 805.7, -0.4
Long 2 TF 806.0, 806.0, +0.4, +0.8
Short 1 TF 806.9, -0.5
Short 1 YM 12807, 12807, -0, -5
Long 2 YM 12811, +5, +10
Short 1 TF 808.0, -0.0
Short 2 YM 12838, 12838, +5, +10
Short 2 ES 1365.25, 1365.25, -0.0, -0.0
Total ES -0
Total YM +25
Total TF +0.3
But in reality, these models only occur a couple times a month, and such a strategy wouldn't last long in a market that swings. Such an early breakout trade was apparent today, and was called and taken in the ValhallaFutures chat room via the mini Russell. But we dumped it so ridiculously early without knowledge of the remaining action to the day.
20120703
Short 1 TF 805.7, -0.4
Long 2 TF 806.0, 806.0, +0.4, +0.8
Short 1 TF 806.9, -0.5
Short 1 YM 12807, 12807, -0, -5
Long 2 YM 12811, +5, +10
Short 1 TF 808.0, -0.0
Short 2 YM 12838, 12838, +5, +10
Short 2 ES 1365.25, 1365.25, -0.0, -0.0
Total ES -0
Total YM +25
Total TF +0.3
Fri Jun 29 Weekly & Monthly Trade Summary
20120629
Short 2 YM 12736, 12736, +4, -5
Short 2 NQ 2588.75, 2588.50, +1.5, -1.5
Short 2 TF 791.5, 792.0, 0.6, +0.5
Total YM -1
Total NQ -0
Total TF +1.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20120629-20120625
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +73
Total NQ +10.75
Total TF +10.3
Monthly Totals Jun 2012
Total ES +5.75
Total YM +133
Total NQ +4.5
Total TF +59.1
Short 2 YM 12736, 12736, +4, -5
Short 2 NQ 2588.75, 2588.50, +1.5, -1.5
Short 2 TF 791.5, 792.0, 0.6, +0.5
Total YM -1
Total NQ -0
Total TF +1.1
Weekly Trade Summary 20120629-20120625
Total ES -0.0
Total YM +73
Total NQ +10.75
Total TF +10.3
Monthly Totals Jun 2012
Total ES +5.75
Total YM +133
Total NQ +4.5
Total TF +59.1
Thurs Jun 28 2012 Trade Summary
20120628
Short 2 TF 771.0, 771.0, +0.7, -0.3
Short 2 NQ 2533.75, 2533.75, +2.5, -0.5
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +0.4
Short 2 TF 771.0, 771.0, +0.7, -0.3
Short 2 NQ 2533.75, 2533.75, +2.5, -0.5
Total NQ +2.0
Total TF +0.4
Wed Jun 27 Trade Summary
Trade Summary
20120627
Long 2 TF 764.1, 764.2, +0.6, +1.0
Short 2 TF 763.8, +0.4, +0.7
Short 2 YM 12511, 12509, +4, -7
Short 1 TF 766.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 767.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 769.3, 769.2, +0.7, +1.0
Short 2 YM 12558, 12558, +8, -2
Long 3 NQ 2563.0, 2562.0, 2562.5, +1.0, -1.0, +4.0
Total NQ +4.0
Total YM +3
Total TF +3.4
20120627
Long 2 TF 764.1, 764.2, +0.6, +1.0
Short 2 TF 763.8, +0.4, +0.7
Short 2 YM 12511, 12509, +4, -7
Short 1 TF 766.0, -0.5
Short 1 TF 767.4, -0.5
Short 2 TF 769.3, 769.2, +0.7, +1.0
Short 2 YM 12558, 12558, +8, -2
Long 3 NQ 2563.0, 2562.0, 2562.5, +1.0, -1.0, +4.0
Total NQ +4.0
Total YM +3
Total TF +3.4
Tues Jun 26 Trade Summary
20120626
Short 2 TF 760.8, 761.2, -0, -0.6
Long 1 TF 761.1, -0.8
Long 2 NQ 2538.75, 2538.75, +2.0, -0.25
Long 2 TF 761.1, 761.0, +0.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 757.2, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2535.25, 2533.25, +0.5, +4.0
Long 2 TF 756.2, 756.1, +0.6, +0.9
Long 1 TF 755.9, 755.5, +0.4, +1.6
Long 1 YM 12407, +10
Long 1 NQ 2533.75, -1.5
Long 2 TF 754.6, 754.8, -0.4, -0.5
Long 3 YM 12398, 12399, 12400, +10, +15, +17
Long 2 YM 12383, +10, +9
Total NQ +4.75
Total YM +71
Total TF +1.6
Short 2 TF 760.8, 761.2, -0, -0.6
Long 1 TF 761.1, -0.8
Long 2 NQ 2538.75, 2538.75, +2.0, -0.25
Long 2 TF 761.1, 761.0, +0.4, +1.0
Long 1 TF 757.2, -1.0
Long 2 NQ 2535.25, 2533.25, +0.5, +4.0
Long 2 TF 756.2, 756.1, +0.6, +0.9
Long 1 TF 755.9, 755.5, +0.4, +1.6
Long 1 YM 12407, +10
Long 1 NQ 2533.75, -1.5
Long 2 TF 754.6, 754.8, -0.4, -0.5
Long 3 YM 12398, 12399, 12400, +10, +15, +17
Long 2 YM 12383, +10, +9
Total NQ +4.75
Total YM +71
Total TF +1.6
Mon Jun 25 Trade Summary
20120625
Short 1 TF 759.2, -0.4
Short 1 TF 760.9, -1.0
Short 2 TF 761.4, 761.1, +1.4, +1.0
Long 2 TF 758.3, 758.4, +0.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 756.8, -0.1
Long 1 TF 756.8, +1.7
Total TF +3.8
Short 1 TF 759.2, -0.4
Short 1 TF 760.9, -1.0
Short 2 TF 761.4, 761.1, +1.4, +1.0
Long 2 TF 758.3, 758.4, +0.7, +0.5
Long 1 TF 756.8, -0.1
Long 1 TF 756.8, +1.7
Total TF +3.8
Fri Jun 22 Trade Summary
20120622
Long 1 TF 762.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 762.0, 762.2, +1.5, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2565.0, 2564.75, -2.0, -2.25
Short 2 ES 1326.25, 1326.25, +1.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.5
Long 1 TF 765.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 764.4, -0.0
Long 1 ES 1324.25, -1.0
Long 2 TF 763.9, 763.9, +1.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 764.1, 763.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 ES 1321.25, +2.0
Total ES +3.5
Total NQ -4.25
Total TF +5.3
Long 1 TF 762.9, -0.7
Long 2 TF 762.0, 762.2, +1.5, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 2565.0, 2564.75, -2.0, -2.25
Short 2 ES 1326.25, 1326.25, +1.5, +1.0
Long 1 TF 765.7, -0.5
Long 1 TF 765.5, -0.5
Long 1 TF 764.4, -0.0
Long 1 ES 1324.25, -1.0
Long 2 TF 763.9, 763.9, +1.5, -0.0
Long 2 TF 764.1, 763.5, +1.0, +2.0
Long 1 ES 1321.25, +2.0
Total ES +3.5
Total NQ -4.25
Total TF +5.3
Thurs Jun 21 Trading Around Econ Reports
Yes, you can trade in front of big econ reports, like the Philly Fed report at 10am ET today. The trick is to have a valid technical entry signal in front of the report that would have worked on its own, even if no such report was scheduled. Partial out of the position to pay for the trade, and then hold the balance into the report ONLY if prices still reflect a profit to your remaining position as the report approaches in the last 20 seconds or so. That premium can serve to cushion the blow if reaction to the report goes against you with a sudden spike. If price comes back to your entry price on the balance of your position just before the news, bail out. No harm done. But more often than not, a technical signal to enter the market before the report will play out in agreement with the reaction to the report itself, almost as if the market
seems to 'know'.
20120621
Long 3 YM 12760, 12757, 12759, +4, +13 +5
Short 2 TF 778.2, 778.5, +1.0, +3.2
Total YM +22
Total TF +4.2
seems to 'know'.
20120621
Long 3 YM 12760, 12757, 12759, +4, +13 +5
Short 2 TF 778.2, 778.5, +1.0, +3.2
Total YM +22
Total TF +4.2
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