Registered: Dec 2006
Posts: 2089

Week ended 12/23/11

+2100

Happy to have a positive week. Decided to paper trade the basket strat the last 2 weeks of the year. This week would have been a wash even with the move in the market.

Pairs did nothing this week; pretty much a wash. Typical for lower volatility although I am starting to notice drift again. If VIX drops below 20, time to make a serious adjustment at how I will trade them going forward. I told myself to watch for this so glad to be on the look out this time.

Futures were decent. I sized down, stayed disciplined, and took only high prob setups with the trend.

Looking to finish the year on a positive note.

Registered: Dec 2006
Posts: 2089

Week ended 12/30/11

+7100

Dec 2011

-1100

2011

-31k

Ended out the week on a good note. It was a mix of strategies that contributed to the positive week in both accounts although my year end trade performed nicely the last 2 days of the year. Hope to keep this momentum going into 2012.

It was a year I would like to forget but also a year where I have learned a lot. This is the first time in my trading career where I have lost money for the year. As much as I went through both on the trading and personal front I'm surprised it was not worse although 31k is not pocket change.

I am looking forward to 2012 to see if I can apply what I have learned through this rocky road.

Good luck to all.

end 2011 equity curve.png
This has been downloaded 99 time(s).

Registered: Dec 2006
Posts: 2089

Forgot to mention that sim trading the weekly basket strat was the right decision. Looking to tweak this in the new year starting end of the first week in sim account for the next 3 months. Not going to risk anymore capital on it until I see some solid results. Results from this type of strat in sim should not be skewed due to a one time weekly rebalance with MOC orders.

Registered: Jan 2007
Posts: 285

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Quote from mastacoli71:

Attachment: end 2011 equity curve.png

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Registered: Dec 2006
Posts: 2089

Week ending 1/6/12

+17k

Momentum from last few weeks carried into the new year. Still fighting a few bad habits like trying to fade AAPL from 410. Cost me 1400 and kept me under 150k in my retail account. Outside of that, almost everything clicked: pairs, futures, cefs, you name it.

This year I am focusing on reducing risk when I have runs like this cause they usually do not last for more then a few weeks. Some may say that is foolish but for me it's what works. I can always get back into trades if I see follow through. If not, there will always be other trades.

My retail account started off the year with about 142k and prop right at 140k. I will be drawing 10k / month like last year. Also thinking about drawing more then that if I make more in any given month just to keep my risk in check.

Registered: Dec 2006
Posts: 2089

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Quote from MBAGearhead:

Thanks for sharing and keeping it real. Not enough traders do this. Kudos.

Best in 2012.
MBA
http://mbagearhead.blogspot.com

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