If the stock is moving on breaking news (like earnings) and have decent volume, pre-/post- market normally affords me good entry points if I have a fundamental reason to enter. Yes, CMG stock cost me 8K from the post-market entry this week (the option - which cost 29K - was initiated after the open, and like I said was not a trade based on conviction - it was pure revenge), but CSCO and AKAM both were also initiated in pre-market, and between them made more than 10K this same week. I understand if you would not enter because you cannot get out with a stop. As for people having to understand 243.36, Hey NOD not every body trades on charts and technicals!!! I've never considered myself a technical trader, but we could all be profitable.
Just checked out your rule, and it cost me huge this time !!! I went long at the highs (276.80) AH, and lost (exited 260). Then went short (PUTS with price at 245 after market opened near the lows) and again lost.
If pre-/post-market trades overall have been net profitable, then by all means I'd keep the strategy. But options are very risky at the open as your revenge trade proved. They are priced to benefit the sellers, who are taking on a lot of risk at that point. I know you're not a technical trader, but I think I was pretty clear in saying one did NOT have to understand CMG's 243 level to know that by 5 mins after the open CMG was in demand in a big way. Let's agree on one thing, for sure: Isn't it about that time we buy some POT calls? It's been a while
I didn't bother to respond because I think it is all laid out in my opening post. Yes, from a balance of 5.3K in Nov 2004, I made 936.7K (profit) in the 6 year/2month period reported. For 2005, like I explained before, I brought in some money sometime after the start of the year, but took out all that and more (giving net withdrawal of 12K) before the end of the year. I picked the bottom in my cumulative equity curve to start with. Going back to the start of my foray into the market, I indicated my cumulative performance before that bottom.
Hmmm, I thought you have given up on POT when you took up CL. I wasn't sure you still found fun there
POT calls have a huge premium so I'd say its dangerous to chase the trend so close to expiry. A play I like much better are Canadian banks which were flat in 2010 but are beginning what looks like a breakout into earnings ( early March ) now. TD, BNS, CM all setting new 52 week highs last week. RY is a laggard play still $7 off its 52 week high but starting to slowly perk up. Call options remain fairly cheap because these stocks were range bound for 14 months. March calls look wonderful but a correctly timed entry is almost can't miss. Any option week related dip is a huge buying opportunity. Not sure if we'll get the dip anymore, but the manipulations in expiry week are sometimes pretty transparent ( except to some of the permabears on here who think they are triggering a correction ). I think I have an edge on this play and this sector looks like its going up another 10-20% very soon. I have one position now that I plan on selling on the first good day next week. I'll then redeploy my capital on March calls on any intraday dips in price. Fundamentally, I predict TD Bank raises their dividend on March 3rd setting off a week long buying spree from "buy and hold" types in Canada and yield lovers in the US.
Weekly Update for week 6/50 ended 2/19/2011 Nice week, up 11.7K (4%). Gains here and there offset by little losers there. No major loss to report. Code: Opening Balance: 296,230 Net gain for the week 11,748 ------------------------------------------------ Net Balance: 307,979 Number of Trades 17 Number of Profitable Trades 8 Since Inception of Thread 01/8/2011 - 2/19/2011 Opening Balance: 335,899 Net loss(Less Margin Interest) 27,920 (Down 8%) ------------------------------------------------ Net Balance 307,979 Number of Trades 93 Number of Profitable Trades 52
Neke, nice job this week. Do you have any experience in call ratio backspreads? also where is your 2005 journal ?