Fri Jul 29 Trades & Journal

2016029
Short 1 TF 1215.0, +1.2
Long 1 TF 1209.1, -1.4
Long 2 TF 1207.9, 1207.9, +1.0, -0.2
Long 2 YM 18308, 18301, +13, +7
Short 1 TF 1211.0, -0.2
Short 1 TF 1210.9, -0.2
Short 1 TF 1211.2, +1.0
Total YM +20
Total TF +1.2

Using the methods offered by the Serial Sequent studies and the Pivot/Exhaustion Grid, pullbacks into 2nd trends and fades at 1st trend extremes are the most consistent opportunities. But when pullbacks remain shy of targets, 2nd trend breakouts can offer the only clear way to participate...and breakouts can be fraught with false starts and enough choppy action to thwart remaining in the position successfully. But on some days, the breakouts are just magic...if you can only muster the faith to take them. At times, there seems a missing, secret ingredient in knowing where the clean breakouts lie versus those that will fail shortly upon entry. Keep an open mind. Maybe a flash of lightning insight will yet appear, and the perfect set of breakout filters to that Technical Event Concept will be complete. ....and a good weekend to all...

Thur Jul 28 Trades & Journal

2016028
Long 1 TF 1214.7, -1.0 simulator mode
Long 2 YM 18330, 18330, +7, +13 simulator mode
Short 1 TF 1217.7, +1.6 simulator mode
=====================
Long 1 TF 1215.0, -0.0
Long 1 TF 1214.4, -0.5
Short 1 TF 1213.9, +1.5
Long 1 TF 1211.8, +1.2
Short 1 TF 1212.9, -0.4
Short 2 TF 1213.5, 1213.4, +0.8, +1.5
Total TF +4.1

Previous two days in a row losses triggers a Trade Plan rule. Must start out in simulator mode until can achieve 2 of 3, or 3 of 5 profitable trades vs losers. If achieved, can go back to cash. If not, must remain on simulator til end of frame, and start off on simulator again on the following day. This behavior governor becomes a potential stop-loss on a string of losing days, and is a simple way for beginners and those of experience alike to keep from blowing up an account. A whole week of losses means you start the next week on simulator, but must achieve 2 of 3, or 3 of 5 days in profits before returning to cash. Never try to play catch-up to losses. Losses are gone forever. You can't get them back. The only way to overcome losses is to regain consistency. Regain consistency, and eventually your P&L line recovers. Succumb to the pressure of getting even, and you'll only dig yourself deeper into a hole. Sometimes the markets are more difficult than at others. If your methods are not producing consistent profits, establish behavior governors in your Trade Plan that will stop you out before you blow out your account.

Wed Jul 27 Trades & Journal

2016027
Long 1 NQ 4696.25, -3.0
Short 2 TF 1219.9, 1219.9, +0.5, -0.4
Long 3 TF 1216.9, 1217.3, 1216.7, -0.9, -0.0, -0.1
Long 1 TF 1213.5, 1213.3, -0.7, -0.3
Long 1 NQ 4688.5, +3.0
Short 1 TF 1215.0, -0.0
Short 1 TF 1215.5, -0.7
Total NQ -0.0
Total TF -2.6

Wide divergences between the usual leader TF and the other contact sectors usually accompany losing trading days for me. Yesterday, the YM, which is seldom right about the trend, and often makes solo new highs or solo new lows just about the time the rest of the market is finally ready to go the opposite way, was, in fact, the true leader yesterday, crashing early as the heavy bear. Again today with the leadership shifts and TF divergences. When signals make no sense, there's little you can do. Switch to trading another contract, or keep the powder dry for better trading days ahead.

Tues Jul 26 Trade Summary

2016026
Short 1 YM 18423, -10
Short 2 YM 18434, 18434, -7, -7
Short 2 TF 1213.0, 1213.0, -1.4, -1.4
Short 3 TF 1214.4, 1214.4, 1214.4, +1.2, +1.2, +1.5
Long 2 YM 18412, 18411, -1, -2
Long 1 NQ 4672.0, -0.0
Long 1 TF 1213.1, -0.5
Long 1 TF 1205.5, +1.5
Short 1 TF 1208.0, -0.3
Short 1 TF 1208.3, 1208.1, -0.7, -0.5
Short 2 TF 1209.9, 1209.9, -0.6, -0.6
Short 1 TF 1212.2, -1.4
Short 2 TF 1213.1, 1213.1, +0.5, +0.5
Total YM -27
Total NQ -0.0
Total TF -1.0

Mon Jul 25 Trade Summary

2016025
Short 1 NQ 4655.0, -2.0
Long 1 TF 1209.4, -0.1
Short 1 NQ 4658.5, +5.0
Long 1 TF 1208.5, +1.0
Long 1 ES 2160.5, -1.5
Long 1 NQ 4646.75, +4.0
Short 1 NQ 4653.75, +3.0
Total ES -1.5
Total NQ +10.0
Total TF +0.9

Fri Jul 22 Trade Summary

2016022
Short 1 TF 1200.2, +1.0
Short 1 NQ 4638.5, -1.0
Short 2 TF 1202.5, 1202.6, +1.0, +.07
Long 1 TF 1200.3, -0.5
Long 1 TF 1199.4, +1.2
Short 1 TF 1206.6, -0.5
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +2.9

Thur Jul 21 Trade Summary

2016021
Short 1 NQ 4653.75, -0.5
Short 1 YM 18493, -10
Short 2 TF 1210.3, 1210.3, +0.7, +1.8
Short 1 TF 1207.9, -0.3
Short 1 TF 1210.2, -0.3
Long 2 NQ 4650.5, 4649.0, +1.0, +3.0
Short 1 TF 1211.3, +1.0
Total YM -10
Total NQ +3.5
Total TF +2.9

Wed Jul 20 Trades & Journal

Short 1 NQ 4626.75, -2.5
Short 1 NQ 4628.5, 4628.0, +2.0, -1.25
Short 1 TF 1197.7, +1.0
Short 1 TF 1198.8, -0.4
Short 1 TF 1199.3, -0.7
Short 2 TF 1199.8, 1198.8, -0.7, -0.7
Short 2 TF 1203.0, 1202.8, +0.7, -0.7
Short 1 NQ 4634.0, -2.0
Short 3 TF 1103.4, 1104.1, 1104.3, -1.4, -0.7, -0.3
Short 2 TF 1207.7, 1207.9, +0.5, +1.0
Short 1 TF 1207.6, +1.4
Total NQ -2.75
Total TF -1.0

The Russell 2000 index usually leads the market. Basing momentum and structure on that futures contract is the best way to create entry models for repetitive use. However, sometimes other index sectors do lead, especially the NQ. ...and when that happens the models based on the TF do not produce the expected results, playing catch-up, as it did today, to the vaulting NQ contract. Recognize the 2nd trend of the day as quickly as possible. Sometimes it appears without creating a WorkDone concept to end the 1st trend. If the strength of the 2nd trend surprises you, then it has probably also caught the majority of other traders by surprise. Look for the Inflection Levels in the 2nd trend that could coincide with clean break-out levels, and place your risks there. Today, I just couldn't get may head around it in time, and thus was left fading a stampeding bull for losses. I knew what was happening, and thus kept stops small, but that didn't put me with the trend, it just prevented me from losing big and satisfied my ego that I was doing the right thing. ...I wasn't doing the right thing, and my Analyst was in control. Let the Trader do his job. He has the Inflection Models all out on paper. It doesn't matter if the Analyst doesn't believe it. He has to be told sometimes to just take his medicine and live in a state he perceives is wrong in order for the account to make profits....

Tues Jul 19 Trade Summary

2016019
Long 1 NQ 4601.0, -0.0
Long 3 NQ 4591.75, 4591.75, 4591.75, +2.0, +2.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 1200.4, +3.0
Short 1 TF 1203.8, -0.0
Total NQ +6.0
Total TF +3.0

Mon Jul 18 Trade Summary

2016018
Long 1 TF 1199.3, +2.0
Short 1 TF 1201.4, -0.5
Short 1 TF 1204.4, +0.1
Short 1 TF 1206.4, -0.4
Short 1 YM 18456, -5
short 1 TF 1206.7, -0.3
Short 1 TF 1208.4, +1.0
Total YM -5
Total TF +1.9

Fri Jul 15 Trade Summary

2016015
Long 2 TF 1198.8, 1198.7, +2.0, +0.7
Long 1 NQ 4590.0, -1.0
Short 1 YM 18458, +18
Short 1 NQ 4588.0, -0.0
Short 2 TF 1203.6, 1203.5, +0.5, -0.5
Total YM +18
Total NQ -1.0
Total TF +2.7

Thur Jul 14 Trade Summary

2016014
Long 2 NQ 4585.25, 4585.0, -2.50, +2.0
Long 2 TF 1200.0, 1200.2, +0.7, +1.5
Short 1 TF 1102.8, -0.2
Short 1 TF 1204.2, -0.7
Short 2 TF 1205.0, 1204.9, +1.0, +1.9
Total NQ -0.5
Total TF +4.2

Wed Jul 13 Trade Summary

2016013
Short 1 TF 1207.5, -0.5
Long 2 TF 1201.7, 1201.3, +1.0, +0.7
Short 1 TF 1105.8, -1.5
Short 2 NQ 4580.0, 4579.5, +5.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 1203.5, +2.0
Total NQ +7.0
Total TF +1.7

Tues Jul 12 Trades & Journal

2016012
Short 4 TF 1198.2, 1198.1, 1198.2, 1198.9, +0.5, -1.4, +0.5, -0.5
Short 1 YM 18233, -1
Short 2 TF 1200.5, 1201.1, +1.2, +1.0
Short 2 TF 1201.1, 1201.0, +0.5, -0.7
Short 2 TF 1102.5, 1102.8, -0.4, -0.7
Short 3 TF 1203.1, 1203.5, 1203.5, +0.1, -0.3, -0.3
Short 1 TF 1205.9, +3.0
Total YM -1
Total TF +2.5

Sometimes the turns must be stalked very carefully. Could not find the 1st frame high signals, and then because I was convinced the 2nd trend would stick, ignored the TF buy signal at the LOD. ...did the market laugh at me... but because I had not dug self into a deficit hole on the day, and was mostly quiet as I watched the TF late 2015 highs approaching, the confluence of TTI momentum, Serial Sequent structure, and price level all met with enough confluence to provide at least one decent winning trade. On many other days, my trading against such extreme grinds has been too often marked by lack of patience and disbelief that such grinding climbs could continue. Step aside when the signals are fuzzy. It's ok to miss trades. Your risk allowance should not be squandered simply because you fear missing a trade.

Mon Jun 11 Trade Summary

2016011
Long 2 TF 1180.7, 1180.5, +1.2, +0.7
Short 1 TF 1181.8, -0.1
Short 1 TF 1181.8, +1.5
Short 1 TF 1183.4, +2.4
Total TF +5.7

Fri Jul 8 Trades & Journal

20160708
Short 1 TF 1160.1, -1.4
Short 2 TF 1161.1, 1161.3, -1.4, +1.0
Short 2 NQ 4491.24, 4491.25, -3.0, -3.0
Short 1 TF 1162.2, 1162.4, -1.4, -1.4
Short 3 TF 1163.1, 1163.5, 1163.3, -.0.6, -0.4, +1.6
Short 2 TF 1163.8, 1163.8, -0.3, -0.3
Short 3 TF 1163.6, 1163.4, 1163.3, -0.0, -0.2, -0.3
Short 2 NQ 4497.75, 1197.0, +5.0, -1.0
Short 3 TF 1166.6, 1166.6, 1166.6, +1.0, -1.0, -1.4
Short 2 TF 1168.1, 1168.1, -0.7, -0.7
Short 2 TF 1169.2, 1169.2, -0.0, -0.0
Short 3 TF 1169.6, 1169.2, 1169.6, -0.4, +0.5, +0.5
Short 2 TF 1170.7, 1170.7, -0.5, -0.5
Short 1 TF 1170.6, -0.4
Total NQ -2.0
Total TF -8.7

Most difficult days to trade are the grinding bulls. Action defies clean breakout levels, and pullbacks are shallow without providing entry signals. Sometimes just quitting before you dig too deep a hole is best strategy of all.

Thurs Jul 7 Trades & Journal

20160707
Short 2 NQ 4452.75, 4453.0, -0.0, -0.0
Short 2 TF 1153.8, 1153.7, +1.3, +0.5
Long 1 TF 1151.9, +1.0
Long 1 TF 1148.0, +1.0
Long 2 TF 1147.6, 1147.7, -0.8, +0.7
Short 1 TF 1149.4, -0.4
Total NQ -0.0
Total TF +3.3

The ideal entry model consists of the confluence of Structure, Price and Momentum...and occasionally a static time cycle. Structure is contained by the rules of Serial Sequent, and includes concurrence between the four futures contracts we trade. But sometimes, Structure and Momentum targets are fulfilled without the price level of the Pivot Exhaustion Grid being reached. Today, this happened twice and left me on the sidelines for two clean and significant moves among what otherwise were a lot of choppy other opportunities. Resolution: adjust for an incomplete model by size of entry. Such entries would have at least deserved a 1-lot play, and could easily been entered near their turns by use of a stop order type entry. Compromise. The ideal entry opportunities simply do not always show.

Wed Jul 6 Trade Summary

20160706
Long 2 TF 1127.9, 1128.2, +2.0, +2.0
Long 1 TF 1133.7, +1.0
Total TF +5.0

Tues Jul 5 Trade Summary

0160705
Long 2 YM 17739, 17738, +10, +10
Long 2 TF 1137.5, 1137.5, +1.0, -0.1
Long 1 TF 1135.9, +1.9
Short 1 NQ 4403.0, +5.0
Total YM +20
Total NQ +5.0
Total TF +2.8

Fri Jul 1 No Trades. Happy USA Birthday....