If I may ask the group, what types of orders do use to enter your trades? Market? Limit? Stop Limit? I use a Stop Limit order to enter a majority of my trades and then a regular trailing Stop for exits. Would like to hear how the rest of you guys handle your entries. lhg
I see too much. I need to learn to filter the info I see. Believe me, you have spring-boarded me into a new level. Those paint bars are gold because I can see how they can be used for good eye-scanning analysis for different markets when trying to find the ideal candle resolution. Or, I'm assuming this is one if its strong points. Right now I need to get a better eye on those hh/hl and ll/lh, D tops, D bottoms and s/r areas. I think you are really good with your clarity, and I solute you for giving away your hard earned works. -Tech
Tech, Perhaps it's time to dissect what's worth noting and what is distraction. Your analysis is evidence that you have in you from a logical standpoint. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, if you stick to the rules they are small losses anyway, call it tuition. In time the market will stop fooling you on the same traps if you respect the learning process. Funny enough, the best trading book ever written is your very own personal journal. Make sure you have one, if you don't start today. Anek
Preparing for the unexpected The best trader has no bias. He or she goes long or short without a single ounce of bias and his decision is 100% based on price action not on fundamentals, economic news or what Joe Guru X said the night before. Today I want to talk about the unexpected. One of the best skills to have as a trader is to be able to readjust on the fly when the immediate trend is reversing in your face at the speed of light. Particularly if it took 2 hours to finally form a downtrend only to require 30 seconds to reject it and form the uptrend. It's easier said than done as I've witnessed experienced traders giving away profits from lacking the mental fortitude to erase the past and concentrate on the now. Been there and done that many times myself but as time goes by if you take your work seriously you develop all types of skills in trading. Make sure you are fully aware of any possible change in direction but most important if the change is justified by your price action rules. Don't let the market stun you. Anek
Babe, to answer your question â yes and no I do looking for new trend formation, classic new high and new low, but after reading so many books with basically the same entry rules, Ive started asking myself a question â how can I improve my entry and not having that feeling that market immediately goes against me after *perfect entry*?? Where the momentum really start? How I can minimize the risk and If I wrong, still keep small portion of the trade to cover at least commissions and few bottles of beer. So, in a plain words I ve started to look how people think and enter their trades on numerous chat rooms and published teachings. Basically, at any moment Im asking the simple question, if market cant make new high/low, where it most probably will go next??
To expand a bit on this, a method to eliminate bias is to always be on the look for your next short and long entry. If you are flat (no open trades) you should know what points of interest (there should be two, one for long and one for short) you can find on the chart. In them evaluate your risk and reward and take your trade acoording to your plan. You can usually see your entry with enough time before the move happens and if you dont catch it, dont follow it. Let it go and look for your next two points of interest, the next trade is just arround the corner. Piscuy
Im going to talk a bit about a subject that is not often discussed but I belive to be of colossal importance in trading. That is why the title of this post is trading and life. Trading is a very demanding job, no doubt about it. Therefore it is very important to be at ease in your life with most things that go around in your everyday life. I always have a saying that if im not feeling 90 % I wont trade that day. It may be a cold, family troubles, breakup with the girlfriend, you are underslept, hungover or anything that takes away from our abilitites to trade. As you know by now trading is about dicipline, but not only when you are sitting in front of the screen. It takes time, and in the beginning it takes effort but as they say after 21 days anything becomes a habit. Life has a funny way of surprising us when we least expect it so dont let it affect your trading. If you are not feeling good, dont trade. The market will always be open tomorrow or if its a friday it will be open on monday. Dont loose sight of why we want to trade and succeed at it. Im sure the most appealing fact in it is the idea of the life we want. The freedom to have the things we desire, the ability to work without having a boss, employees etc. etc. You are trading to live and not living to trade. Its not about money, its not about ego, it is about life and how we want to live it. As time goes by and you improve your trading you will be forced to look within and evaluate yourselves and your emotions. That is the only way to learn to controll them(note that I did not say ELIMINATE). It is a journey, not an easy one but a very rewarding one. You will get the life you want but in return you have to get to know yourself. That is where trading can even improve everyday life. Piscuy