daytrading:Futures or Equities?

Discussion in 'Trading' started by traderob, Dec 20, 2003.

  1. traderob

    traderob

    Hi,
    This must have been discussed somewhere and if there is a recent thread please direct me.
    Or we can start again here.
    Don Bright said somewhere that he trades mostly equities. I have been focussing more on futures but have had slightly more success with equities (lost less) . I hold both for short times - average 3-5 minutes.
    The uptick rule on equities causes me to miss some short oportunities which is why I have gone more for futures. Tax is not an issue as I am not American.
    Really it comes down to which is one more likely to be consistently profitable at?
     
  2. I don't see how anyone can turn a profit holding a stock for 3-5 minutes. Are you buying the bid/selling the ask?


     
  3. traderob

    traderob

    I look for breakouts. On stocks I probably hold more towards 5 mins. average.
    Here is a trade (that I missed, of course) on Friday. I should have placed a stop limit entry above the consolidation and would have got in about 93.06-.10.
    And closed out 3 minutes later.
     
  4. I don't see how anyone can turn a profit holding a stock for 3-5 minutes.

    most of my equity profits came from holding only 3-5 seconds

    ( arbitrage opps usually only last that long ) :)